National gold, silver and bronze for Harriers athlete

Tullamore Harriers athlete Ally Duffy secured a superb second place finish in the U17 girls race at the 123.ie National Novice and Juvenile Uneven Ages Cross Country Championships yesterday afternoon (Sunday).

The National Novice and Juvenile Uneven Age Cross Country Championships took place at the Sport Ireland Campus in Abbotstown, Dublin.

With torrential rain and a very muddy course, Ally had to battle fiercely around the three laps course of the course. This is Ally’s second silver medal win at All-Ireland level as the young Castledaly athlete won silver in Derry a fortnight ago in the U16 race.

The U17 race (over a distance of 4,500m) was won by Freya Renton (16.55) of Westport AC, with Ally second in a time of 17.29 and Madison Welby (City of Lisburn AC) third in 17.34.

Ally’s fantastic run helped her Tullamore Harriers team to secure gold in the club competition. She also led the Leinster team to bronze in the provincial competition.

Harriers emerged as decisive winners in the team competition, well ahead of second placed Finn Valley. Ally was joined on the Harriers team by Rachel Keaney, Elise Cusack, Maeve Duffy, Aurelia Crotty Adelyn Walsh and Mia Gallagher. Elise also won bronze, having scored on the Leinster team.

Meanwhile, Matilda Cusack also had a superb individual run in the U13 girls race finishing fifth out of a field of 200 who started the race. Matilda led home the Leinster squad to provincial bronze medals.

Ally now looks forward to her first time representing Ireland, having earned a call up to compete at the Celtic Cross Country/Home Nations International in February. This U17 event will take place on Saturday February 7, 2026, in Parliament Hill, close to London.