Two Offaly athletes selected for European cross country championships

Two Offaly athletes have been included in Athletics Ireland's 34-strong team for the upcoming SPAR European Cross Country Championships which take place in Lagoa, Portugal on Sunday, December 14.

Danielle Donegan (Tullamore Harriers) who finished third in the recent 123.ie National Cross Country Championship is rewarded with a place in the senior women's team, whilst US-based Ava O'Connor, a member of Tullamore Harriers and a native of Emo, Co. Laois, will be part of the U23 team.

The senior teams will be spearheaded by recent national cross country champions Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock AC) and Fiona Everard (Bandon AC), while an exciting mixed relay team is set to feature world finalists and national record holders Cian McPhillips (UCD AC) and Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC), as well as Laura Nicholson (Bandon AC) and Eimear Maher (Dundrum South Dublin AC).

Fay, who holds the national record over 5000m, was impressive in claiming victory last weekend in the senior men’s race over 7,500m in Derry. The 27-year-old will be joined by Cormac Dalton (Mullingar Harriers), Jack O’Leary (Mullingar Harriers), Darragh McElhinney (Bantry AC) and Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers) as Ireland go in search of a team medal in the event for the first time since 2000.

All five have significant European Cross Country experience with Dalton eighth in the senior men’s race two years ago and McElhinney winning silver individually and team gold in the U23 race on home turf in Dublin back in 2021.

Everard, will be making her third successive appearance at the European Cross Country Championships, following an excellent come-from-behind victory in Derry last weekend. Joining her on the senior women’s team will be Niamh Allen (Leevale AC), who finished 11th in this race last year, Danielle Donegan (Tullamore Harriers), Mary Mulhare (Portlaoise AC) and Emily Haggard-Kearney (North Belfast Harriers).

Ireland sends a mixed relay to these championships for the first time since 2022, with Cian McPhillips, Andrew Coscoran and Laura Nicholson all donning the green singlet again after competing in the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. McPhillips was fourth in the final of the Men’s 800m lowering the national record to 1:42.15, Coscoran made the final of the Men’s 1500m, and Nicholson made her senior major championship debut in the Women’s 1500m. Maher also had a track season to remember as she won bronze in the Women’s 1500m at the European Athletics U23 Championships in Bergen.

Having won silver in the U23 race twelve months ago, Nick Griggs (Candour Track Club) will once again bid for a podium place. The 20-year-old who has already won three individual medals at these championships will lead a strong team alongside Jonas Stafford (UCD AC), Niall Murphy (Ennis Track AC), Callum Morgan (Candour Track Club) and Lughaidh Mallon (UCD AC).

The women’s U23 team sees double European U23 track medallist Anika Thompson (Leevale AC) and Ava O’Connor (Tullamore Harriers) return from America following a busy NCAA season. Joining them will be national champion Roise Roberts (Candour Track Club), Amy Greene (Finn Valley AC) and Kirsty Maher (Moy Valley AC), who have all accumulated Euro Cross experience in recent years.

Both Noah Harris (Parnell AC) and Cormac Dixon (Tallaght AC) were part of the Irish U20 team at these championships last year and will return for Lagoa. Caolan McFadden (Cranford AC), Tom Breslin (Clonliffe Harriers) and Finn Diver (Beechmount Harriers) will all make their Irish debuts at this level of competition.

Anna Gardiner (East Down AC) will race in her third successive Women’s U20 race at the European Cross Country Championships, her best finish came two years ago in Brussels (7th). Gardiner will be joined on the team by national champion Emma Hickey (United Striders AC), Lucy Foster (Willowfield Harriers), Eimear Cooney (Ace AC) and Abby Smith (Shercock AC).

Speaking at the announcement, Athletics Ireland National Endurance Co-Ordinator, Mark Kenneally said: “We are delighted to be travelling to Portugal this year with a number of opportunities for medals and strong finishes, both individually and with teams. It is also heartening to have a mixed relay team for the first time in a few years, with a really strong lineup. Great credit goes to all the athletes who have made this team, and their coaches. Hopefully we can continue to perform as strongly as we have been over the last number of years at the European Cross Country Championships.”