THE final weekend of the National Track and Field League was held in Tullamore, with great success for Galway County teams and a strong GCH men’s team result.

The Galway men’s team won county gold for the third year in a row, under manager Siobhan Kelleher. The squad were led by Justin Lane and he duly won the pole vault with a fine 2.30m clearance and was fifth in the weight for distance throw

Oisín Davis won the 1500m in a quality contest in a fast 3:53.21, while Darragh Kelly took the high jump title in an excellent competition where the first three cleared an identical 1.80m. Keelan Moorhead came fifth in the 400m and also ran strongly in the 4x400m relay.

The team scores were boosted by strong performances from Abaas Edris of Castlegar (winner in the 3km steeplechase), Ciaran Kelleher, South Galway (second in the 1500m Walk), West Coast AC’s Leon Ewere (winner of the 200m) and Lemar Lucciano, who won the 100m.

Darragh Fahy captured the triple jump title and was placed second in the long jump, with Athenry AC’s talismanic thrower Liam Shaw winning both the shot putt and discus events. Squad members who also scored points included Ben Edeh, Oisin Phelan, Reakwon Lucciano, Christian Obegmudia and Nick Ukaga.

Sarah Finnegan managed the women’s team and they won silver in the Premier Division in another fine performance. Sinéad Treacy delivered another top-class display to win the 400m in a fine 55.39s. Other victories came from strong performances by Alix Joyce (3km steeplechase), Laura Nally (100m), and Nicole Walsh (200m).

In the field events, Leanagh Gilligan cleared 9.83 for second in the triple jump, with Alisha Larkin also second in the long jump. Jade Moorhead cleared 1.55m for third in the high jump. Arlene Earls took a late call-up to run a fine season’s best  of 2:23.6 for fifth in the 800m. Both relay squads excelled in the 4×100 and 4x400m, with each winning the maximum points.

Also featuring for the Galway squad were Juno Hayes, Angela Cielecka, Mary Barrett, Fauve Aylmer, Izzy Kelly, Margaret Nnadi, Holly Shaughnessy, Danielle Moynihan, Alix Joyce, Aine Maguire, Niamh McWalter, Annalysse Nally, Danielle Fitzpatrick, Nicole Quirke and Aoibheann Redington.

Galway City Harriers men’s squad were a valiant fourth place in Division One, with a team mixed with youth and experience. Star athlete Robert McDonnell won a stunning 100m/200m double in season’s best times, including 10.80s for the 100m. Also on the track, Shane McGovern secured the 400m title with a perfectly timed finish

Tom McHugh made an eagerly awaited throws debut using senior weights in some style, securing a hard earned first place in the shot putt and third place in the discus. Another debut from Adill Prochownik Mohamed resulted in an honourable third in a first race over the senior 400m hurdles. Likewise Sean Danker put in a brave performance in the steeplechase for fourth on his debut

Pádraig Faherty delivered a 1:58 PB over 800m, while Michael Conway and David Carter both ran excellently in the 1500m and 3000m respectively to secure valuable team points at a crucial stage

In the field, Richard Kamson did three events, coming second in the triple jump, third in the javelin and fourth in the hurdles. Ben Sheehan secured points in both the hammer and walk, while Jonah Erugo was superb in both relays and jumped 5.33m personal best in the long jump. Igor Muntean competed in both the high jump and weight for distance tp secure more valuable points.

Pictured: Members of the Galway City Harriers team at the National Senior League Final, left to right: Sean Danker, Adill Prochownik Mohamed, Rob McDonnell, Shane McGovern, Padraig Faherty, Richard Kamson, Jonah Erugo, Tom McHugh, Seamus Lynch, Mags Sheridan and Ben Sheehan.