Mark Kenneally finally strikes Gold
The smile on Mark Kenneally’s face said it all after winning the Woodie’s DIY senior race at the inter club cross country championships at the Phoenix Park today. The Clonliffe Harriers man took the lead shortly after the start of the six lap race and cruised to a comfortable win. His coach Mark Carroll advised he stay back but he felt comfortable in the lead and decided to lead from early on.
This was his first senior gold after a run of seven silvers both over the country and on track. A bronze in the inter counties before Christmas disappointed him and he was not prepared to be beaten again. He heads for the US next and will race over 10k on May 1st.
There was a great scrap for second with Gary Thornton from Galway City Harriers just getting the better of Gary Murray from St. Malachy’s. Clonliffe Harriers won the team title from Raheny Shamrocks.
The other three races resulted in three runaway victories with Linda Byrne from DSD AC streaking away from Siobhan O’Doherty from Borisokane AC who got the better of Annette Kealy from Raheny Shamrock AC. DSD won the team title from North Belfast AC.
Byrne felt good after a couple of good races in recent weeks so decided to take it from the gun.
Shane Quinn from Ferrybank AC pushed the pace towards halfway in the junior men’s race and soon had the field well stretched. Behind Liam Tremble from Metro St. Brigid’s gave chase, but it was John Travers from host club Donore Harriers who paced himself best. With 1k to go he forced himself past Quinn to take the lead. Shortly after Quinn pulled up to leave Travers a convincing winner from Tremble with Emmet Jennings from DSD third. Raheny Shamrocks won the team title from Donore Harriers.
A mistake in the entries from DSD meant that junior women’s winner Siofra Clerigh Buttner was not eligible to compete on age grounds. She dominated the race to win but officials had no option but to DQ her. Mary Mulhare from North Laois ran well to win the title with Ciara Dullaghan from Lagan Valley second and Niamh Denny from DSD AC third. DSD AC won the team title from Raheny Shamrock AC.
