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Learning Curve for Derry Teams at Inter-Counties Words: Malcolm McCausland Photos: Eoghan Furey |
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The Donegal man who earlier in the year took the National Clubs’ cross-country as well as the track 1500 metres raced into the lead from the gun. At the end of the first two kilometre lap of five he was 15 metres clear along with Leevale’s Mark Hanrahan. He doubled the advantage on the second circuit as Hanrahan drifted back into obscurity. Gary Murray in Control When Dublin champion Robert Connolly gave up the chase approaching the six kilometre mark, the St. Malachy’s club man was left over 100 metres in front and was able to make his way home unchallenged. “I felt easy so I thought I would press on and if they wanted to run at my pace that was fine with me,” explained Murray after the race. Murray is now almost certainly assured of selection for the European Championships in Holland the weekend after next. “I’ll be looking to do my best and do the vest proud after having a terrible run last year,” said Murray when asked of his prospects in Tilburg. Likely to be joining him on the team is Gareth Turnbull who started cautiously but worked his way through to third at the line. “I was apprehensive with not having run cross-country for three years and started very conservatively,” said Turnbull. “But apart from one small glitch at the start of the last lap I felt strong all the way,” added the Loughborough graduate. Paul Pollock should make it three Ulster runners on the flight to Holland with a battling third in the junior men’s race. Meanwhile, Paddy Hamilton picked up his first Northern Ireland senior gold when he was the winner of the Joe Seely 10K incorporating NIAF title at the distance on the fast Ormeau circuit. The Annadale Strider broke away from a field of over 400 at the start of the last lap to come 14 seconds clear of defending champion Paul Rowan from Willowfield in a time of 30 minutes 40 seconds. James Connor running as an individual but in Striders’ colours took the bronze medal in 31 minutes seven seconds. Annadale looking a 23rd team victory in 24 years were surprisingly beaten by a determined squad from the host club, Willowfield, who turned up the heat on the last lap. Lisburn athlete Kelly Reid still disappointed by her omission from the NI Commonwealth Games team led every yard of the women’s race to score in a respectable 36 minutes 41 seconds. Almost two minutes back, Rhona Harkens had her best run of the year to take second in 38 minutes 39 seconds with North Breige Connolly showing continued improvement for third in 39 minutes 20 seconds.
Best performance of the day from the large Derry contingent had to be Conor Bradley’s magnificent seventh placing in the junior men’s race. The St. Columb’s College student was only a matter of seconds away from selection for Ireland’s under 20 team for the European Championships but will take consolation from the fact that he is eligible again for the race next year. David McCarthy took ninth. Conor Bradley Left) and David McCarthy run shoulder to shoulder Diarmuid Grant was the first Derry finisher in the men’s race with Colin Roberts just getting the better of Aaron Doherty on the run-in to gain the honour of second Derry man across the line. The local women also found the going tough with Shelagh Bodkin the first finisher in 34th place with Hannah Shields (40th), Karen Dolan (50th) and Jackie McMonagle (52nd) completing the scoring quartet which finished eighth in the team contest well behind silver-medallists Donegal. Earlier Foyle Valley’s Sammy McAnaney had been in action at Joe Seely 10K in Belfast where he finished second in the M45 category with a time of 35 minutes exactly. Diarmuid Grant
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Gary Murray completed an unique hat-trick of Irish titles when he was
the runaway winner of the National Inter-Counties at 