Samba Soccer

The Samba Soccer Experience returned to the town last week and, despite the terrible weather, over 80 children aged 5-14 took part, enjoying the games and drills. The main attraction was the skilfull Brazilian, Thiago Sa, from Sau Paulo who enjoyed the week but, like the rest of us, was bewildered by our summer. Credit must go to the children who braved the weather every day without complaint. Thanks to the parents for their perseverence and thanks also to Donegal Rugby Club for the use of their facilities. Samba Soccer continues in Donegal throughout July in Killybegs, Stranorlar and Buncrana and will return in 2003. The co-ordinator was Aiden McAleer and the coaches- Barry Thomas, Stephen Cuffe, Matthew Cutliffe, Jeannie McGonagle and Gareth McGlynn.

UNDER 12s QUALIFY FOR MOSNEY

Martina Kennedy (The Video Shop) presenting the U12 girls team with their strip. The girls qualified for Mosney after defeating Monaghan 4-2 in the Ulster semi-final and on the same day they went on to beat Derry 5-1 in the final. The team performed well with Emma Johnson controlling the back and Collette Cunningham superb in midfield. Collette and Kate Keeney scored the goals. Pictured: Caroline Walsh, Joanne McGroary, Elaine Harron, Lorraine Johnson, Aisling Stewart, Caoimhe O’Connor, Emma Johnson (Captain), Amanda Breslin, Nicole McGovern Amy Jordan, Kate Keeney, Karlene Nolan, Bernadette Hanna, Martina Kennedy.

Sinead Peoples, Ruth Little, Michelle Harvey, Nuala Curran

The national junior and under 23 championships took place in Tullamore on Sunday. For the competitors involved the quest for gold must have resembled that of the Klondike prospectors of the 1800s rather than what one would normally expect from a typical June competition. Yet the cold and the constant rain could not spoil what overall was an excellent days athletics. Once again Tir Chonaill AC proved to be the big winners from a Donegal perspective returning with a very impressive medal tally.

The junior womens 800metres proved not only to be the race of the day form a Donegal point of view but also provided the type of finish more commonly associated with an Olympic sprint final. Going into the race there was little to separate the form of Tir Chonaill athletes Sinead Peoples and Ruth Little. Both had posted personal best times of 2min, 15 sec within the past fortnight, so not only the race as a whole but the battle between the two friends was eagerly anticipated. In the early part of the race Little was closest to the front while Sinead was content to stay in the middle of the field. At the bell Kristal Palmer of Enniskillen made a bid for victory, but Little responded and hit the front in the back straight. With 200metres left she held a lead of 5-6metres over Peoples who was now second. It appeared at that stage that the race was over as no athlete has matched Little over the final 200 for quite some time. However Peoples inched closer and closer and with 30 metres remaining the two were shoulder to shoulder. Both drew on every morsel of remaining energy in an attempt to pull clear before charging across the line side by side.

It was a full half hour before scrutiny of the photo finish had established the result. Little had won by one hundreth of a second. A great race and great to see two member of the same club involved in such a contest.

While the junior 800 metres was the event which provided the closest finish it was only one of many which brought success to Tir Chonaill AC. Mary McLoone competing at under 23 level once again proved the extent of her all round abilities by winning a hat trick of gold medals. On the track she ran an impressive 65.67 seconds to take gold in the 400 metre hurdles and followed this up with a win in both the long and triple jumps. Her winning distance in the long jump was 5.46 metres and in the triple jump her best was 11.82. Another Tir Chonaill athlete with excellent all round abilities is Geraldine Stewart. Considering that she is currently ranked as the best shot putter in the country her victory in that event with a throw of 11.82 metres came as no surprise. On the track a time of 16.98 seconds was good enough for gold in the 100 metre hurdles while despite being disappointed with a jump of 4.78 metres in the long jump after having trouble hitting the board it was still good enough to take the bronze medal. In the junior womens long jump her club mate Emma O Doherty also came away with bronze, registering a best jump of 5.19m.

In the 4 x 100 metres the Tir Chonaill team of Nuala Curran, Ruth Little, Catherine Harvey and Emma O Doherty took bronze behind Leevale and Cellbridge.

The final Donegal medal of the day came in the final event of the day the 4 x 400 metres. Sinead Peoples and Ruth Little who had provided the track highlight earlier teamed up with Nuala Curran and Michelle Harvey to run out as impressive winners of the 4 x 100 metres. Harvey ran the opening leg and led as she handed the baton to Little who stretched the gap to 20 metres over the chasing pack. Nuala Curran then ran a fine leg in her first ever competitive 400 metres before Sinead Peoples took the baton home in a time of 4, 05.1