News

12th Aug 2010 Spartans Go For National League Glory In Tullamore

The Tullamore Harriers Stadium on Saturday hosts the National League Finals with the City of Derry Spartans senior male and female squads both in the mix for honours,the men in the Premier Division and the women in the First Division,after battling their way out of the two qualifying rounds in June and July and setting up a crack at the top track and field clubs in the country.

The male Spartans will line up against three top Dublin clubs,Clonliffe,Raheny and DSD,Tullamore,Menapians,Kerry Athletics and St.Abbans,having surprised everyone with a magnificent qualifying campaign which saw them finish runners up to the mighty Clonliffe machine. Indeed the red vests are in their Premiership debut season and now target a podium finish tomorrow,much,much more than expected a few short months ago!

Nothing however is guaranteed and a few key men may miss out due to injuries and unavailability.Jason Smyth is rated only 50/50 as he struggles to shake off a niggling achilles problem, Ciaron Craig too is battling injury and both Pajo Hamilton and Colin Roberts are out. On the positve,Simon Herron,Tom Carey and Rudi Moore are back and Connor Bradley makes his long awaited return to serious action. These guys will score good points as will Adam McMullan and Andrew Doyle. Aaron Doherty,JP Williamson,Daniel Reid,Mark McGarvey,Dara Furey and Paul McElhinney will scrap tenaciously for points and if top sprinter Smyth travels for the 100m and Sprint Relay
who knows just what may happen.

The Female Spartans did very well to finish fifth in the Division 1 qualifiers and go in against West Waterford,Galway County,Clonliffe,Kildare County,Raheny and Tullamore.This will be a tough test for what is a very young squad and holding on to a top six spot will be the target tomorrow with 2011 already earmarked as the year to mount a serious challange for promotion.

Maggie Donnelly,Anna Barr and Janelle McGurk will hope to set the standard for the Spartans with Amy McDaid,Jackie McGinley.Hannah McGowan,Rebecca McLaughlin,Grainne Kearns,Danea and Jamie Herron and Stephannie Keys also pressing for points. Hurdler Emma Gee will be missed but team spirit will be high and the girls will be up for the battle.

Gerry Lynch 11/8/10