Helen McCready, Gerard Gallagher win Donegal Masters Cross Country titles

Helen McCready and Gerard Gallagher won the Donegal Masters Cross Country titles on Sunday in Stranorlar.

Rosses AC’s McCready and Gallagher of Finn Valley AC each won titles after thrilling battles.

Turning up the hill for the final time in the 3k race, McCready pushed the accelerator and held sway to take the gold, nipping ahead of Finn Valley AC’s Leoni Cooke with only around five seconds in it at the end.

McCready finished strong to nudge Cooke into the silver medal place while Finn Valley AC’s Catriona Devine was the third woman to finish, taking the O50 gold medal in the process. 

McCready was joined by Fionnuala Diver in fourth, Nicole O’Donnell in fifth and Selina O’Donnell in eighth to take the O35 team honours ahead of the Finn Valley four of Cooke, Devine, Kay Byrne and Martina Quinn.

Rosses also took the women’s O50 team gold medals with Emer Magee (8), Sarah Mulholland (12) and Cathy Breslin (13) scoring. 

Rounding the corner for home in the men’s race, Gallagher had enough gas in the tank to take a memorable victory on home soil.

Gallagher edged out Charlie ‘Postie’ O’Donnell  from Rosses AC after a neck-and-neck battle over 5k.

Finn Valley AC’s Enda Doherty took the individual bronze medal having been in a leading trio from gun to tape. 

Finn Valley AC took the team gold with Gallagher and Doherty joined by Barry Gallagher (8) and Darren Toland (10).

Rosses AC’s quartet of O’Donnell, Mark Ward, Graeme Edwards and Gavin Ward were second and Cranford AC third with John McFadden, Liam Doherty, Declan McBride and James McFadden scoring.

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Inishowen AC left with the men’s O50 team gold, led by fifth-placed Pauric McKinney who was joined by Liam. Bradley in 12th and Owen McKinney in 19th.

Finn Valley AC - Its Kelly, Noreen Bonner and Geraldine Browne - took women’s O50 silvers and the team bronze in the women’s O50 section went to Tir Chonaill’s trio of Jackie Harvey, Sharon mcGowan and Marie Rooney.