Last week’s Glenswilly GAA 5K highlighted the strength and talent within Letterkenny Athletic Club.
Their athletes achieved remarkable results across all age groups and categories in this popular local running event.
The race featured a compelling head-to-head battle between Cian Friel and Michael Harkin. Cian Friel took the lead with a strong time of 17:02, closely followed by Michael Harkin in an excellent 17:12. Enda McLaughlin also delivered a standout performance, achieving a personal best of 17:28. With the summer season just beginning, more great performances are anticipated.
Dessie Shiels ran a superb sub-18-minute race, finishing in 17:59, immediately followed by Patrick Brennan in exactly 18:00. Liam Tinney clocked in at 18:50, while PJ McMenamin and Eamonn McEldowney both finished with identical times of 18:57.
Paul McMonagle and David Niyadd crossed the finish line in 19:40. Anna Russell led the Letterkenny AC women, delivering an impressive performance with a time of 19:42.
Colly O’Donnell finished strongly in 19:46, with Adrian Callaghan close behind in 19:48. Ray McDermott ran a solid race in exactly 20:00.
Adrian Mullally finished in 20:02, just ahead of Derek Campbell and Paul Toner, who both recorded identical times of 20:07. Darren Price continued his strong form, finishing in 20:10.
Cara Harkin completed the course in 20:53, followed by Mark Nee in 20:58. Robert Kavanagh finished in 21:20, followed by Manus McFadden in 21:27. Marie Boyle demonstrated excellent endurance to finish in 21:31.
Ciaran Liddy finished ahead of Frank Pinder, despite both achieving identical times of 22:18. Robert Tshimbudzi followed closely behind with 22:22, marking his first race since completing the London Marathon, highlighting his resilience and dedication. Alicia McNulty posted a strong time of 22:46.
Noel Lynch ran steadily to finish in 22:49. Paul Lee crossed the line in 23:03, ahead of Niamh McDaid in 23:31 and Stella McCole in 24:15.
Conor McDaid (24:18), Kenny King (24:27), Con Duffy (24:36), Anne Robinson (24:40), and Doireann Ní Riain (24:47) all finished in under 25 minutes. Diane Bustard (25:33) and Frank Wellwood (25:42) delivered solid performances, followed by Richie Raymond in 26:41. Kevin Lynch demonstrated impressive stamina with 27:13, and Linda Cronin finished shortly after in 27:17. Mairead Ferry showed great determination to finish in 27:29, succeeded by Niamh Waters in 27:59.
Claire Price completed the Glenswilly loop in 28:08, followed by Diarmaid Doherty in a fast 28:14. Noelle Lynch recorded another strong performance in 29:21, closely followed by Rita Conway in 29:24. Eoghan Sharkey (29:39) and Noreen Sharkey (29:48) completed the sub-30-minute finishers. Shaun O’Donnell (30:15) and Liam Waters (30:24) narrowly missed breaking the 30-minute mark.
Noah McGonagle showed great potential with a time of 30:30, with Amanda McNulty close behind in 30:36. Eunan McBride displayed excellent endurance with 30:38, further adding to the club’s representation.
Martina McBrearty (32:33), Paul Gallagher (32:40) Noreen Pinder (33:38) and Angela McGee (34:05) demonstrated great strength on the undulating, yet fast 5k course.
Pascal Keeve showed great determination with 34:26, while Eimear McClafferty showcased excellent endurance finishing in 43:06. Grit McGee delivered a committed performance with 49:40, and Ita McGee completed the club’s outstanding performance with 52:39.
Success for Letterkenny AC at NI Masters Championship
The Northern Ireland Masters Track & Field Championship took place at the Mary Peters Track in Belfast on June 21st, 2025.
Danny Sharkey performed well in the 2000m walk, showcasing the technical precision and endurance required for race walking. Competing in the M65 category, Sharkey clocked an impressive 14:01.03, securing fifth place overall and first in the M65 category.
Letterkenny AC’s standout performer was Barry Mackey, who competed in both the 3000m and 1500m races. The M60 athlete first completed the demanding 3000m race, finishing eighth overall with a time of 11:41.38 and claiming third place in his M60 age category.
Mackey then competed in the 1500m, where he won the championship title. His winning time of 5:38.61 demonstrated both speed and endurance, as he controlled the race from start to finish with a perfectly executed tactical race.
Arctic Debut for McCallion Delivers Impressive Top 10 Finish
The Arctic capital of Norway provided a stunning backdrop for the Midnight Sun Marathon on June 21st, as runners from around the world gathered in Tromsø to experience a unique racing environment. Held during the peak of the midnight sun season, the challenging event requires athletes to perform under constant daylight, navigating the beautiful Norwegian Arctic landscape.
John McCallion of Letterkenny Athletic Club made an outstanding debut in the half marathon, finishing seventh with a time of 1:17:33. He demonstrated remarkable adaptability, stepping up from his usual 3k distance to the 21.2k for the first time.
His time of 1:17:33 represents an exceptional achievement, demonstrating the strength of distance runners emerging from Letterkenny A.C. The performance is even more impressive considering the physical and mental challenges faced from competing at 69 degrees north latitude.
Lynch Duo Delivers Outstanding Performances at Jog for Joe 5K Memorial Race
The Jog for Joe 5K in Strabane on Sunday, June 22nd, was a fitting tribute to the memory of Joe Breslin, the beloved late athlete from Lifford Strabane AC. The race brought together runners from across the region to honor Joe’s legacy.
Representing Letterkenny AC, Noel Lynch powered through the 5k course, finishing with a time of 23:07.
The Lynch family’s commitment to the sport was beautifully exemplified as Noelle Lynch also competed for Letterkenny AC. She delivered a determined performance, maintaining steady form to achieve a finishing time of 30:35.
The race was dramatically won by Claire McGuigan, now competing for Strabane AC but formerly a standout athlete with Letterkenny AC. McGuigan dominated the field with a blistering winning time of 17:43.
Letterkenny AC Runners Excel in Ballyraine NS 5K
Letterkenny Athletic Club delivered an impressive running display at the Ballyraine NS 5K on Tuesday, June 10th. Dessie Sheils had an excellent evening, powering his way to a fantastic third-place finish overall with a time of 18:21.
Colly O’Donnell led the way in the M50 division, securing first place in his age group with a strong time of 20:00. Peter Gallagher delivered an impressive performance with 20:23, and Michael Mooney rounded out the top ten overall, finishing well in 20:37.
Robert Kavanagh continued the club’s strong performance, finishing 18th overall in 21:30. Sean O’Leary secured first place in the M60 division in 22:37, followed by Liam Wiseman in 23:38.
Marie Boyle led the women’s performances with a fantastic result in the F40 category, securing first place in her age group with a time of 22:00. Alicia McNulty also delivered an excellent performance, taking second place in the Women’s Open category in 23:41, followed closely by Margaret Sheils in 23:53. Edith Neely finished strongly in 27:08, and Noreen Pinder claimed third place in F50 with 33:15.
Additional strong performances came from Noel Lynch, who clocked a solid 22:56, Paul Lee, who finished strongly in 22:58, Kenny King, who represented well in 24:56, Rory Kennedy, who claimed a good time of 25:30, Kevin Lynch, who finished in 26:57, Richard Raymond, who secured a time of 27:12, and Eunan Mc Bride, who completed the M60 representation in 32:00.
The women’s field showed continued depth, with Diane Bustard finishing in 26:50, Irene McFadden securing a time of 26:51, Caoimhe Friel, who representing brilliantly in 26:33, Linda Cronin, who claimed a time of 27:23, Denise Gallagher, who finished in 28:12, Claire Price, who securing a time of 28:26, Noelle Lynch, who finishing in 30:08, Majella Gartlan, who strong representation in 31:13, and Angela McGee, who finishing with 35:34.
The junior ranks continued to impress with Diarmaid Doherty finishing in 29:14, Cillian Gartlan securing a time of 29:45, Danann Gartlan finishing in 30:41, and Conor McDaid representing with a determined time of 25:40.
Letterkenny AC delivers standout performance at Glenswilly GAA 5k was last modified: June 25th, 2025 by
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