Galway athletic teams bound for novice cross country championships
THE county’s top female athlete Alanna Lally was presented with the Schoolgirls Athlete of the Year award at the annual National Athletics awards ceremony in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry.
This was a well deserved award for her fantastic dedication and results throughout a stellar 2014. During the year, Lally won numerous National titles, including 400m and 800m, both indoor and outdoor, at U19 level.
She also set a championship best performance at 400m and won the All Ireland Schools Senior 800. Lally finished second in the National Junior 800m, just missing selection for the World Junior championships.
Meanwhile, Craughwell AC high jumper Cathriona Farrell was honoured with the Galway Bay fm Athletics Award 2014 at the radio station’s awards ceremony in the Loughrea Hotel on Saturday night.
During the year Farrell won a phenomenal number of titles, including the National Senior, National Intervarsites, National U23, indoor and outdoor, and was also selected on the Irish squad for her first senior international in the European Team Cup.
The Galway teams for Sunday’s All Ireland Novice Cross Country championships have been announced. The race will take place in Santry with the women’s event off at 2.45 pm, over 4km, and the men’s starting at 3pm, over 6km.
GCH will also field club teams in the same event in both races, while Craughwell have a men’s team. Both Galway squads have some strong athletes and will be in the hunt for county team medals, with Keith Fallon and Neil Greaney, both strong track runners, along with triathlete John Greaney, having the poential for high placings in men’s event.
In the women’s race, GCH star Alvy Carragher will expect to go well following on from her 5th place at the National intermediates earlier this year. She will be well supported by Helen Corbett, Barbara Dunne and Niamh Hennelly among others.
Senior Men: Neil Greaney, Paul Joyce, Ollie Mullins, Robert Hogan (all Craughwell AC, Martin Kearney, Billy King, Seamus Leddy, John Moroney, Culan O’Meara, Declan Duggan, Keith Fallon,John Greaney, Damien Ridge, Brian Bruton (all GCH), Vincent McGuinness, Crusaders AC.
Senior Women: Alvy Carragher, Helen Corbett, Barbara Dunne, Siobhan Egan, Niamh Hennelly, Sinead Brody, Gráinne Ní Uallacháin, Jane Walsh (all GCH), Emer O’Connell (Corrib AC), Catherine Thornton (Crusaders AC).
This Sunday sees the annual Carnmore Turkey trot, over 5km, in aid of Carnmore Hurling Club, which will get underway at 1pm. Race director Andy Talbot expects a bumper attendance, with turkeys as prizes for the various category winners. The event headquarters is at Carnmore Community Centre.