'They are still dreamers, but still achievers': Finn Valley AC welcome home European Masters

As Finn Valley AC welcomed home its representatives from the European Masters Indoor Athletics Championships in Poland, Patsy McGonagle pointed to the power of positivity.

Five athletes from Finn Valley AC competed in Torun last week with a total of six medals returned.

Sinead McConnell won individual silver in both the 3000m and 5000m race walks, leading Ireland to team bronze in the latter; Kay Byrne won bronze in the 8k cross country and secured a team gold with Ireland; while Catriona Devine left with silver in the 1500m.

Noreen Bonner was just outside the medals in fourth over the 8k cross country while Garvin Boyce clocked a new personal best in the 1500m.

“The fact that they have this longevity of success and competing doesn't come easy,” McGonagle, the former Irish athletics team manager, said.

“Injury is a big issue in this sport and it's all about how you deal with the injury. Recovery might be easier when you're younger and that is a serious challenge to overcome and deal with that and to keep the focus to stay in the game.

“That is a common trait with everyone here: the positivity, the lifestyle and taking on a challenge. They dream the dreams.

“You always tell youngsters to dream and to imagine what they'll do and what they'll achieve. That is what it's all about and you don't ever dampen that dream. These people are still dreamers, but they are still achievers. It is a great story.”

Byrne was one of Finn Valley AC's first ever medal winners in 1971. Still, the Ballybofey woman is competing and collecting medals.

Byrne secured individual bronze in the 8k cross country (W60) and helped Ireland to an excellent team gold. Annette Kealy and Carmel Crowley also scored on the Ireland W55 team.

Also in the 8k cross country at Rudelka Park, Bonner was fourth in the W65 event while Boyce's 5:14.06 goes down as a new PB.

Byrne finished fourth in the W60 3000m, clocking a season's best time of 11:59.

Byrne also came home seventh in the W60 1500m final - crossing the line at Arena Toruń in a fine 5:44.60.

In the W55 3000m race walk, McConnell finished in 16:10.74, a season’s best time that goes down as a new Irish record in the W55 category

Valerie Boban of France won gold in 15:53.76 and Germany’s Sigute Bronnecke took bronze in 16:33.53

McConnell grabbed two medals in the 5k race walk with individual silver leading Ireland to team bronze in a new Irish W55 record time of 27:16 - lowering the 2007 mark of 31:53.

With 200m to go, the Castlefin woman led the way before being pipped at the post by her old adversary Boban, who won by just seven seconds (27:09). Bronnecke earned bronze in 27:49

Alongside Anne Gormley and Deirdre Doherty, McConnell led the Irish trio to team bronze medals behind France and Germany.

Devine, a sister of McConnell's, won silver in the W50 1500m, finishing in 5:04.71 for silver, only beaten in the last few metres by Spanish athlete Sonia De La Calle Gomez, who took gold in 5:04.41.

McGonagle said: “Catriona has talked about that last 100 metres when she was driving for home with the Spanish girl hanging on tight. The Spanish athlete got up. Catriona missed a bit of time and perhaps missed the necessary speed work.

“There is a mixture of delight at the medal, but you know there is a mixture of disappointment too with some of these athletes.

“I love that because if you're so happy that 'this is it', will you kick back again or will you jump up again? You have to get over it.

“It's a tough game and there is no hiding here. If you don't do it in this game, this is real and this is you. These people are responsible for themselves and they get there – and we are so proud of them.”

McGonagle managed Ireland at four Olympic Games and knows well the honour of donning the Irish gear.

He told a gathering in the Valley Bar & Bistro on Tuesday evening that Finn Valley's representatives at the European Masters are 'setting a great example for the young athletes'.

He said: “Competing for Ireland is where it's at. You stand tall. In some instances here, they stand on the podium and hear the national anthem. That's a big deal. That's emotional. Through all the hard work, discipline and sacrifice, you can get there.”

Boyce spoke on behalf of the athletes and hailed the support from their club.

“Other athletes referenced that support we got from Finn Valley AC,” he said. Boyce told young athletes present that there was a message for them to take home.

He said: “Keep going to the very last day to see can you make it to the start line. There are people who are out there trying and achieving. They are still hungry for it. Keep going to the very last minute to make it.”

Finn Valley AC President Peadar McGranaghan – also the father of Sinead McConnell and Catriona Devine – added: “These athletes go out and always do us proud. I'm very happy that they go out to represent us from Finn Valley AC.”

Also in Poland, Tir Chonaill AC sprinter Shane Toolan recorded a new personal best of 8.63 seconds in the 60m, just missing out on the final and finishing ninth overall with Letterkenny AC's Barry Mackey finishing 16^th in the 8k cross, his Irish team coming fourth in the team standings.