Finn Valley AC last night welcomed back their three medal winning athletes from the European Cross Country Championships in Italy.
Eilish and Roisin Flanagan guided the Irish Senior Women’s to the bronze medal, finishing 11th and 12th respectively, with Mary Mulhare the third counter in 27th.
And Sean McGinley was the third counter on the Irish U20 Men’s team with his 12th placed finish, as Nick Griggs and Dean Casey came 2nd and 3rd respectively.
John Rogan, Peadar McGranaghan, Patsy McGonagle and Mark English with Sean McGinley. Photo by North West Newspix
It was a terrific achievement for Donegal athletes, as all four came home with team medals, with Letterkenny AC’s Ann-Marie McGlynn part of the Senior Women’s team, finishing in 31st.
And Patsy McGonagle praised the three young Finn Valley athletes for their performances.
The Finn Valley Chairman said: “We had to have this and we are delighted to acknowledge the three athletes that competed at the weekend.
“You can use words like inspired, and these young athletes we have here in attendance prove that we’ve got to use occasions like this to inspire the next generation in order to have more days like this.
Finn Valley sisters Catriona Devine and Sinead McConnell presenting Eilish and Roisin Flanagan with a bouquet of flowers. Photo by North West Newspix
“There’s so so many cold miserable demands to get to this position and that’s what it’s all about, making the right decision and taking responsibility, it takes a lot of discipline and hard work to get to this.”
Sean McGinley finished in sixth place in the Junior’s Men’s race at the National Athletics Championships in Rosapenna last month and was disappointed with his resulted but was struggling with illness in the lead up to the competition.
And McGonagle praised his determination to bounce back, doing so by finishing as the third Irish athlete.
“He had a bad run in Rosapenna because he wasn’t well and you’re thinking ‘can he get his head together’ and be extra competitive at his first European Championships.
Sean McGinley, who finished 12th to help Ireland finish with a team silver in the U20 Men’s race at the European Cross Country Championships. Photo by North West Newspix
“A lot of the time you see an athlete get to this position, and you’ll know if an athlete will fight and Sean did and he deserves that.
“To come from Glenswilly, he’s carrying the mantle of that area that had some successful runners.”
For Eilish and Roisin, it has been a similar story of constant improvement. The Gortin twins went to Adams University in Colorado and have come on leaps and bounds since, with Eilish representing Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Both girls competed at the European Championships in Munich and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this year, with Roisin breaking the Donegal 5,000m record at the latter competition.
Patsy added: “When they went to the States, I don’t think you could have wrote the script that they’d make such an improvement and that says it all about them.
Sinead Kenny and Peadar McGranaghan with Roisin Flanagan. Photo by North West Newspix
“They’ve made all of the big starts, they weren’t on top of their game in the summer but they were smart enough to get there. They got the head down, stayed quiet and got the work done.”
When the squads for the European Cross Country Championships were announced, Eilish was a surprise omission from the squad, but when Ciara Mageean withdrew due to illness, she got her chance and proved her worth in being selected by being the lead Ireland finisher.
Patsy commented: “I remember Roisin got picked and I didn’t see that side to Eilish before, she was so annoyed she didn’t get picked.
“When she got her chance she had a chip on her shoulder and she showed them.”
Patsy McGonagle, Kay Byrne, Peadar McGranaghan and Mark Connolly with Eilish Flanagan. Photo by North West Newspix
and Patsy concluded that they have to keep this up now into 2023 and further.
“They’ve got to get into 2023 and have new targets and be humble. The big trick here is to be humble and respectful and there’s three athletes that tick the box, great examples.”
“I’m so proud they’re sitting here tonight as Irish, Finn Valley Tyrone, and Glenswilly athletes.”
The athletes and their parents were presented with awards after.
Gráinne Campbell presenting Jacqueline Flanagan, mother of Eilish and Roisin, with a bouquet of flowers. – Photo by North West Newspix
Patsy McGonagle and Ann Slevin with Sean McGinley and his parents, John and Claire McGinley. Photo by North West Newspix
