Over 20,000 participants took part in the Dublin Marathon yesterday and Mick Clohisey’s winning of the Irish Athletics National Marathon title in a superb 2:15:57 drew memories back to a time when Donegal competitors excelled at this event.
In the women’s race yesterday, Letterkenny native Caitriona Jennings finished sixth overall and was the second fastest Irishwoman.
It was the third year in succession for Jennings, a 2012 Olympian, to finish as the second Irishwoman in the event.
Clohisey was the fastest Irishman, his time the fastest by an Irish athlete since 1991.
Since then, a Donegal athlete has been fastest Irishman on eight occasions.
Letterkenny AC’s Gary Crossan had the fastest times by an Irish athlete in four successive years, from 2002-05, his best being the 2:20:26 from 2001.
In 2001, Pauric McKinney, another LAC athlete, was the quickest of the Irish, in 2:25:42.
But there is another Donegal name on the lost posted by top athletics official Pierce O’Callaghan today that is perhaps disguised somewhat by the Galway City Harriers banner under which he ran.
In a welcome rise in the standards of marathon running in 🇮🇪, yesterday’s winning time by @claw_mick in the @dublinmarathon was the fastest winning time of an @irishathletics Championship Marathon since 1991.. pic.twitter.com/P1E4caRygW
— Pierce O'Callaghan (@Pierceathletics) October 29, 2018
St Johnston native Seamus O’Donnell was best of the Irish at the Dublin Marathon three times in the 1990s.
In 1993, he ran his best Dublin marathon time of 2:23:38.
In 1996, he clocked 2:25:41 and in 1997 he posted 2:29:08.
A brother of Ballintra parish priest Fr Joe O’Donnell, his sporting success was no surprised as he came from a strong sporting stock in St Johnston.
His father Hugh and uncle Paddy were best known for their exploits with the bat and ball representing St Johnston Cricket Club and his cousin Patsy’s name still carries a strong weight around the conversations in Kildrum Tigers.
In 1997, O’Donnell memorably won the National Marathon when it was staged in Derry, pipping McKinney in a frenetic race up the track after a pulsating battle (picture above courtesy of Bernie O’Callaghan).
Tags:DONEGAL’S TOP TEN MARATHON TIMES
2.13.06 Danny McDaid, Letterkenny AC
2.16.30 Brian Keeney, Killybegs AC
2.19.00 Jamie Lewis, Finn Valley AC
2.20.01 Seamus O’Donnell, Galway City Harriers AC
2.20.26 Gary Crossan, Letterkenny AC
2.23.54 Pauric McKinney, Letterkenny AC
2.23.39 Noel McCarron, Letterkenny AC
2.31.52 John Campbell, Finn Valley AC
2.34.05 Patsy Doherty, Finn Valley AC
2.36.31 Fr Kieran Mc Ateer, Letterkenny AC
