Crossan headlines Finn Valley AC’s Indoor League opener as Dewhirst hits new PB

Finn Valley AC teams competed in round one of the National Indoor League on Saturday in Dublin.

After the opening day of action, the Finn Valley women are in sixth spot and well poised, on 65 points, ahead of the second round on February 8.

The Finn Valley men ended day one in 10th, amassing a total of 54 points over the day.

Their highlight on Saturday at the National Indoor Arena was a new club record for Arlene Crossan. A breakout 2025 saw Crossan compete at the European Indoors and the European Teams Championships.

In the 200m, Crossan finished in 24.34 seconds to take 14 points, lowering her previous PB and Finn Valley AC club record of 24.44 in the process.

Crossan came second in her heat, bettered only by Dundrum South Dublin’s Mollie O’Reilly, who was 0.04 of a second quicker in 24.30.

Bridget McDyer won the women’s weight for distance, throwing to a best of 6.49m, Noeleen Scanlan was second in the women’s 3000m, finishing in 10:12.01 and Tara Rose Smith ran a 2:13.31 to win her 800m heat

Ciaran McCarroll was third quickest in the men’s 800m (1:54.55), Oisin Toye was fifth in the 3000m (8:45.33) and Stephen Slevin (11.30m) was sixth in the triple jump.

The men’s 4x400m relay team - Mark Kearns, Ciaran McCarroll, Odhran McBrearty and Odhran Rodgers - finished in 3:33.88 for sixth overall; Seamus McGranaghan’s threw 4.16m in the men’s weight throw; Beth Malone had a 8.06m in the triple jump; and Noah Beales clocked in 24.29 in the 200m.

The women’s 4x400m relay team of Malone, Katie Louise McMonagle, Smith and Erin Sproule finished in 4:49.56.

In a guest 400m, held at the same venue on Saturday, Tir Chonaill AC athlete Fintan Dewhirst opened his season with victory and a personal best. Dewhirst won over 400m in 48.08 seconds. 

His previous indoor best was a 49.28-second run at the 2024 National U20s in Athlone.

The Glenties man won from Waterford AC’s Eoin Kenny, who was second in 48.21, while Finn Valley AC’s Amy Timoney lowered her 60m personal best to 7.73 seconds.

There were some Letterkenny AC athletes competing at the Scottish Indoor Championships on Saturday.

In the senior women’s 60m Fern Duffy clocked 8.26 and followed up with a 27.22-second effort over 200m.

Her sister, Anya Duffy, finished in 28.60 seconds in an under-18 200m while Danny McKinley began his campaign by going 52.83 seconds in a 400m.

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In Boston, meanwhile, Finn Valley AC athlete Sophia Thompson, a student at Union Catholic whose father Terry hails from Letterkenny, was fifth in the junior girls international mile at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix.

In an excellent international field, Thompson Sophia clocked 4:43.41.