Noeleen Scanlon wins masters gold at Autumn Open Cross Country

Noeleen Scanlon won the Masters Women’s race at the Autumn Open Cross Country in Abbotstown on Sunday.

It was a Donegal one-two as Letterkenny AC’s Scanlon moved clear of Finn Valley AC’s Teresa Doherty for gold.

Scanlon took a fine win in 21:35 with Doherty holding on for dear life to take silver ahead of Dundrum’s Dymphna Ryan. Doherty was the first W45 across the line.

Natasha Adams, also of Letterkenny AC, was fourth in 22:16.

Nakita Burke - who won the Donegal senior cross country title seven days previously - was fourth in a tight senior women’s race.

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Just three seconds separated the Letterkenny AC woman from Louise Shanahan (Leeval) in second with Tullamore’s Nadine Donegan in between. Ide Nic Dhomhnaill of West Limerick won in 20:38.

Sean McGinley, the newly-crowned Donegal senior men’s champion, was also fourth. The Finn Valley athlete finished in 24:59 with the race won by the excellent Keelan Kilrehill from Moy Valley. Kilrehill won in 24:27.

Oisin Toye from Finn Valley AC was 23rd in the senior men’s race.

Amy Greene had a fine outing in the junior women’s race. The Finn Valley AC woman was fourth overall and the second Irish finisher in 16:08, just behind her DCU colleague Avril Millerick in the colours of Youghal AC.

In the masters men’s race, Jon-Jo Doherty of Finn Valley was sixth while Ciaran McGonagle from Letterkenny AC was 19th overall and was the leading M45 competitor.

Kay Byrne of Finn Valley AC was the second W60 and her club mate Noreen Bonner fifth W65

At the Autumn Open Juvenile Relays, Finn Valley AC won three team golds.

The under-15 girls took national gold with Andrea Reid, Aimee McElchar, Abí McGeehan and Niamh McGlinchey on the podium ahead of Lucan Harriers and Waterford AC.

The under-11 boys team of Shay McHugh, Adam Breen, Kyle Doherty Evan Patton and Odhran Gallagher and the under-12 mixed relay team of Caoimhe McElhinney, Jasmine Barrett-Doherty, Dylan Temple, Oliver Maguire and Molly Gallagher were also toasting golds.