Donore move into the top ranks
DONORE Harriers Women’s National League team created their own piece of club history by winning the Division One title for the first time at Tullamore last Sunday.
In doing so, they earned promotion to the top ranks of the competition for 2018.
It was the blend of youth and experience that ensured a convincing win as Donore finished on 123 points, 27 the better of closest rivals Louth County (96) with Kerry County (89) third and City of Lisburn AC (85) fourth.
Multi-event juvenile athlete Lara O’Byrne got the team off to a perfect start when winning the 100m Hurdles in a time of 15.50.
It marked the first of five individual wins on the track for the club with juveniles Aoife Lynch (25.34) taking full points in the 200m, Clodagh Martin (1.01.79) in the 400m and masters Anne Gormley (9.42.93) in the 1500m Walk and Aislinn Ni Dhomnaill (10.29.67) in the 3000m.
Aoife Lynch (12.54) was just edged out of a sprints double by Ara Freeman (12.35) of Sli Cualann AC in the 100m.
A solid run by Caoimhe Mackey (1.10.68), another juvenile, ensured third place in the 400m Hurdles while Sinead Lambe (2.23.92) also finished third in the 800m. Niamh O’Neill (5.30.55), a late call-up to the 1500m, put in a fine performance to place sixth.
In the 4x100m relay a Donore team, comprising of Robyn O’Keeffe, Ciara O’Donnell, Cara Brennan and Lynda Tcheudji, placed fifth in 54.78 behind winners Sli Cualann AC.
Caoimhe Mackey, Clo-dagh Martin Sinead Lambe and Aoife Lynch came home third in the 4 x 400m relay in a time of 4.16.27.
While the team did not obtain a win in any of the field events, the individual performances were consistently good, helping Donore Harriers stretch their lead on the scoreboard.
Lauren O’Keeffe fouled her first three throws in the Hammer, before holding her nerve to achieve 46.34m with her final effort, finishing just 8cm behind winner Mairead O’Neill of Kerry County.
O’Keeffe (8.21m) also placed third in the Shot Putt while Rebecca Power (26.36m) did likewise in the Javelin with Clodagh Read (18.57m) fifth in the Discus.
Lynda Tcheudji (10.10m) finished runner-up in the Triple Jump, with Ailbhe Healy (2.70m) also placing second in the Pole Vault.
Lara O’Byrne emerged fourth from both the High Jump and Long Jump fields with best efforts of 1.50m and 4.76m respectively.
Delighted by the team’s achievement Team Manager Leonie Newman said “It was a great team effort with everyone supporting each other.
“I appreciate that everyone gave 100 percent. I would also like to thank the athletes who helped us reach the final but were not present today.
“This is a young developing team. We hope to reach the Premier Division Final next year and to challenge for the national title within the next three to five years”.
Given that the team consisted of nine juveniles and three junior grade athletes on the day this may well be a realistic target.
TAGS Sport
