Bronze medals for Galway athletes in testing conditions
DAY two of the All-Ireland Cross Country events was held Sunday last on a muddy and testing course in St Augustine’s College, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.
The Juvenile Uneven Ages races from U11 to U17, and the Novice races over 4km for women and 6k for men saw large numbers of Galway athletes travel despite the stormy conditions.
Bronze medals for Jason Broderick and the Galway City Harriers ladies squad were the highlights of a great day’s cross country for the Galway contingent.
Broderick was tipped in advance for a top placing in the competitive Novice men’s 6km event, and the Craughwell AC man duly delivered a superb performance in undoubtedly his best ever run at this level.
The 2015 Galway Cross Country champion ran a fine tactical race, starting off conservatively and moving through the field of well over 200 starters, going from 50th on the first lap, to the lead group of five athletes as the race progressed.
Broderick pushed on strongly on the last lap to finish third and take a richly deserved National bronze medal in what was probably the finest individual cross country result in Craughwell AC’s history. This result is a testament to the young Loughrea man’s hard work and dedicated training over the past number of years, and more is surely to come from this talented athlete.
Next home for the Galway squad, which eventually was placed ninth county team, was John Greaney of GCH with a storming 16th place run, followed by a good effort from John Moroney of GCH in 62nd, with John Cronin, Ciaran Diviney, Brian Bruton and Seamus Leddy also team scorers.
The GCH ladies team also took a well earned bronze team medal, coming third behind surprise packets Youghal AC and DSD AC from Dublin. The team was led by a tremendous run from Barbara Dunne in 9th place, with Niamh Hennelly next in 14th in probably her best run ever in the GCH colours.
Caoimhe Daniels and Siobhan Egan completed the four GCH scorers, with Maeve Brassil in 51st and Marie Boyle in 72nd also running well. Galway ladies county team were fourth and just missed a medal.
In the U17 race, the Galway boys’ squad also competed well with GCH athletes Eanna Folan 47th and Ronan Dirrane 77th, with Jack Maher of Connemara AC finishing 61st and Brian Burke, Ballinasloe, in 71st
In the Juvenile programme, nearly all Galway clubs were well represented. GCH U13 girls won bronze medals as members of the successful Connacht team. Eimear Rowe had the best performance of her season to finish in a creditable 18th position, followed in 19th by Emma Moore.
Full report in this week's Connacht Tribune.