Partners Leoni Cooke and Gerard Gallagher crowned masters champions

On home soil in Stranorlar, Finn Valley AC’s Leoni Cooke and her partner, Gerard Gallagher, took the individual golds at Sunday’s Donegal Masters Cross Country Championships.

Cooke and Gallagher each recorded memorable wins with Rosses AC taking the women’s team title and Finn Valley AC leaving with the men’s team crown.

Cooke completed the women’s 3k race in 11 minutes and 30 seconds. Cooke was pushed all the way by a strong Rosses contingent. Rosses took the team honours with Bernie Boyle, Fionnuala Diver and Emer Magee scoring for a solid team victory.

Not to be outdone in the house, Gallagher struck gold in the men’s race in teeming rain to take Finn Valley AC to the team honours.

In pictures and results: Champions Cup Cross Country at Finn Valley AC

Finn Valley AC retained the McGonagle Champions Cup on Sunday after a thrilling day of underage cross country action in Stranorlar

Gallagher and O’Donnell were stride-for-stride for much of the five laps of the masters men’s race.

On the penultimate loop, Gallagher opened a gap and the Crossroads man had the winning post in his sight.

As he came around the final bend, Gallagher was given the push for home by a group of his club mates.

Gallagher finished in 17 minutes and 23 seconds with O’Donnell clocking 18:12.  The ever-green Pauric McKinney was third with his Inishowen AC colleague David Porter next up.

Barry Gallagher, a brother of the victor, David McNulty and Darren Toland were the other Finn Valley AC scorers.

Inishowen AC, led by McKinney, took the O50 men’s title with Rosses AC going home with the O50 women’s team title.