Valley teams in national finals

The national AAI league qualification closed on Sunday in Santry with both Finn Valley teams achieving final spots.

The men's team join Ballymena, St.Abbans, City of Derry, Galway, Riocht and Mennapians in the final. The women's team will meet Ballymena, North Down, Meath, Galway, Clonliffe, Tullamore and St. Abbans.

It was again a team effort that you would be proud of. The mix of young and experienced athletes rallying to the cause as exemplified by team leader Mark Connolly aided by Neil Martin, Kay Byrne, Bernie Alcorn and Pat Hegarty.

A tremendous steeplechase victory from Pauric Mc Laughlin and a 1500m victory from Ian Ward returned strong points.

Also impressive were Gerard Doherty and Clive Heapes in the throws with Trevor Mc Glynn in the discus.

On the track we had performances from Dennis Healy and Darren Stewart and a tremendous run for the line for Teresa Mc Gloin to out run experienced international Pauline Curley. That does wonders for the morale of a team akin to a penalty save for your team in football.

Kathleen Merritt has been returning from England for years to pull us out in this competition and again she did the same. Ciera Kearns was back in action after an injury nearly wrecked her career and did the business and can contribute more to the team next day.

And so when the nail biting was over and done with the job was done, final achieved and now the season will be more meaningful with us pushing for a strong team and a possible promotion spot.

To sum it up it was a team response and that in this day and age as they say is so important. Well done to all.

The early story to emerge at Santry was the performance in the hammer by Clive Heapes guesting and a new Donegal record at 37.54m underlining the talent he has and we remarked on that last week.

In the Ulster senior champs at Antrim on Saturday a silver for Nicola Alcorn and a bronze for Aoife Whelan in the walk. Good to see.

Brian Doyle was on the relay team in Namur Saturday evening . The time 3-04-71 a little dissappointing and now it's down to the European cup this Sunday in Estonia but still Olympic qualification remains a possibility for this quartet.

Kieran O'Doherty takes Berkshire 10k road title

Kieran O'Doherty (24), son of Gerry formerly of Letterkenny and a Finn Valley athlete in the 1970's, won the Berkshire 10k Road championships on Sunday in Reading. Kieran who has his own personal training company in the Reading area (see yahoo www.k-fitness.com) was always in the leading group in a field of 600 runners and pulled away going into the last kilometer to claim a first ever county title for the O'Doherty family. (Kevin, Kieran's uncle also competed for FV in the late 1970's & 1980's).

Rosaleen Mc Gonagle's 60th Birthday Party

Rosaleen Mc Gonagle celebrated a special birthday recently at her home in Ballinaglack a surprise organised by daughters Aoife and Aine a surprise that was nearly given away when Patsy chatted about the grass needing cut. So unlike him as you can understand.

Rosaleen has been involved in the club at all levels since day one and indeed her late father Mickey was a founder member and a member of the committee for many of the early years. Currently sisters Bridgeen and Susan are still involved. She did this year's Mini Marathon once again on Bank Holiday Monday and was on the first ever masters team to win gold with Jeanne Harron, Noreen Mc Gonagle and Mary Martin.

A keen walker she is looking forward to many years of active life ahead. A great night of music and craic was enjoyed by all.

In Sympathy

We regret to note the death of Aoife Whelan's father on Tuesday. Sympathy is extended to Aoife and her family at this time. May he rest in peace.