Great day for Cranford AC at the NI and Ulster Uneven Age Cross Country Championships
The cold and wet day didn’t do anything to dampen spirits at the Uneven Age Cross Country Championships for Cranford last Sunday where they came home with a large number of medals.
First up were our u9 athletes where Karen Neely and Diarmuid Gallagher both had great runs and were rewarded with individual medals.
In the u11 girls Miah Fletcher and Clodagh Neely both ran out of their skins and kept with the leading pack throughout the race to come home in 5th and 7th place earning the girls well deserved individual medals and Gold Donegal team medals and both now qualify for the Nationals in Dundalk in December. Blaithnaid Gallagher and Natasha McGettigan both put in good performances finishing well up the field and these u11 girls were unlucky not to win a team medal missing out by just 2 points.
Caolan McFadden looked very impressive in the u11 boys race and battled to the end to come home in 2nd place and was also part of the winning Donegal team and he now qualifies for the Nationals in December. Caolan Curran also put in a great performance coming home in 20th position closely followed by Ryan McMenamin, Aidan McFadden, newcomer Oisin McNulty who had a great run and Dean Hewitson.
Our u13 girls all ran very well and were lead home by Caitlin O’Hara closely followed by Sophie Curran, Nazara McFadden, Teresa Mullen, Orla Neely and Caoimhe Neely.
Oisin Kelly put in his usual gutsy performance in the u13 boys on what was by now a very muddy track and after a great finish lead his team home in first place to claim the Gold medal followed by Max Roarty in 8th, Liam Donnelly in 16th, Cian McMenamin in 20th, Conor Neely in 34th, Oran McMenamin in 41st and Johnny Trearty in 42nd which earned these boys team Gold medals, Gold Donegal team medals for Oisin, Max and Liam and qualification for the team to the Nationals in Dundalk.
In the u15 boys Johnny McGroddy had an impressive run and had to fight to the line to claim the Bronze medal with Eoin Logue running well coming home in 20th place earning these boys Gold Donegal Team medals and qualification to the Nationals closely followed by Eoghan Moore and Allan Neely with both boys finishing strongly.
Our last race of the day was the u19 boys where Kevin Logue put in a gritty performance to come home in 6th place with Eoin Kelly running very well to finish in 10th place which earned these boys well deserved individual medals and were also part of the Gold Medal Donegal team and have both now qualified to the Nationals.
Thanks as always to our dedicated coaches Eamon Giles, Ernie McElhinney, Joe Boyce, Rose Gavaghan and Bridie Trearty for all their hard work and support and to the parents who braved the elements to cheer on all the athletes. We look forward now to the Even Age Nationals in Abbotstown on the 27th November.

Karen Neely and Diarmuid Gallagher.

Oisin Caolan Clodagh Miah with Eamon and Ernie.

Clodagh and Karen Neely Miah Fletcher with Eamon Giles.

Oisin Kelly it’s his Granny Mary.

Boys U/11

Kevin Logue with Eoin Kelly.

Cian McMenamin

Orla Neely

Aidan McFadden

Caoimhe Neely

Sophie Curran

Teresa Mullen

Oisin kelly

U/11 boys

Kevin logue

Liam Donnelly

Clodagh

Nazara McFadden

Clodagh Neely with Eamon.

Natasha McGettigan

Miah and Clodagh

Caitlin o Hara