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D.S.D was the dominant club at the National Cross Country Championships in Abbotstown yesterday. Gold medals went to the Women’s Section of the club, with wins for the Senior, Junior and U.18 teams, and silver medal performances by the U.14 girls. Our U.16 and 18 boys were very close to the medals finishing in 4th place.
Laura Shaughnessy led the senior women to the retention of their title finishing in 9th place with Maria McCambridge 11th, Fiona Clinton 13th, Bethanie Murray 18th; Sarah Mulligan 21st; Meghan Ryan 32nd; Harriet Robinson 33rd; Sarah Fitzpatrick 35th; Niamh Devlin 40th, – next stop European Clubs Championships.
D.S.D., Junior Women retained their title for an unprecedented 16th years in a row, with Sophie Murphy continuing her surge up the ranks, showing that she is the top performer in this age group. Sophie was followed home by Eimear Fitzpatrick 5th, Heidi Murray 12th and Abi Taylor. Sophie led from the start with Amy Rose Farrell of Blackrock on her shoulder. Nothing was going to stop Sophie as she raced away approaching the tough, sandy and hilly area of the course, for a comprehensive victory, that will see her qualify for the European Junior Cross Country finals.
We had a much depleted team in the Senior Men’s race due to injury and absentees abroad. In the circumstances Robert Corbally played a captain’s part in leading his D.S.D., team home in 25th place followed by John Eves 51st; Sam Knee-Robinson 65th and Mark Conway 75th.
A great performance was registered by our U.18 girls with Jodie McCann 2nd; Niamh Carey 4th, Roseanne McCullough 5th and Grace Dervan 13th. Well done to Lucy and Muireann for their support in this age group. Jodie was 5th U.20 girl, leading her club team to qualification to the clubs European Championships, and with two more years in this Junior age group it augurs well for her European selection for the Irish team in the near future.
Bethanie Murray caused a major upset in the U.23 age, storming home to the individual gold and beating the favourite Amy O’Donoghue of Emerald AC., by a wide margin. Meghan Ryan was 4th in this category, just missing out on selection for Europeans.
Morgan Clarkson was the most improved athlete for D.S.D., as he gained a bronze medal U.14, having finished 21st last year. Other stand out performances were by Paul O’Donnel 5th U.20 (he makes this age group again next year); Niamh Carey 4th and Roseanne McCullough 5th (U.18); Mark Molloy 10th; and Alex O’Floinn 9th U.14 Boys.
The U.14 girls deserve special mention for a gallant 2nd placing, (after a long recount) with Aimee Kenna in 13th place, followed home by Eimear Maher; Emily Bradshaw; Eabha Nally; Ella O’Donoghue and Lily May Craig.
Well done also to our U.12 girls who finished 8th – Isabella Tompkin Beddy; Gracie Browne; Jessica McConn Walsh; Darcy Gallagher and Elyse Malone, and our U.12 Boys Jamie Byrne; Dylan Bannon; Joshua Hauer and Eoin McDonnell.
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