A golden day for Erin Friel as Donegal athletes medal at Tailteann Games

Letterkenny athlete Erin Friel's excellent 2024 continued on Saturday with gold at the Tailteann Games.

The Letterkenny AC woman and Loreto Secondary School student won the 300m.

Friel finished in 39.61 seconds at Morton Stadium in Santry. Friel was able to hold off nearest rivals Briana Dwyer-Carthy (Newpark CS), who clocked 40.27 seconds, and Sophie Mulcahy (St Angela's, Cork), who crossed the line in 40.56 seconds.

Friel ran the second leg of the 4x300m as Ulster schools took bronze with Emily Kelly of Tir Chonaill AC and St Columba's College, Stranorlar running the third leg. In the 300m hurdles, Kelly finished in sixth spot.

Odhran McBrearty is another Donegal athlete who has been in fine form over the last 12 months.

The Finn Valley AC man, a student at St Columba's College, Stranorlar, won silver in the boys 1500m. McBrearty lowered his PB by three seconds to take silver in 4:05.24, beaten only by Colaiste Chillian's Liam Morris, who won in 4:04.17, with St Bricin's, Belturbet's Mark Kearns third in 4:05.68.

Katie Louise McMonagle grabbed long jump silver. Leaping out to 5.41, the Finn Valley AC athlete and Gairmscoil Chu Uladh scholar, was second only to Christ King, Cork's Tiffany Nwaedozie, who won with a 5.58m leap.

In the 4x100m relay, McMonagle ran the anchor leg as Ulster took silver. Letterkenny's Katie Elliott ran the first leg of that relay.

Magh Ene, Bundoran student Caolan Gilbride was second in the boys 1500m steeplechase. McBride crossed the line in 4:40.05 with Paraic McGettigan, of Finn Valley AC and St Columba's College, sixth.

Loreto, Milford student Michael Moore was the bronze medallist in the boys 800m, clocking 1:57.71

St Columba's College's Stephen Slevin (Finn Valley) was fourth in the high jump with Loreto, Letterkenny's Emma Bonar (LAC) fifth in the 800m.

Alannah Anderson of Abbey VS and Tir Chonaill AC was fourth in the discus while Loreto, Letterkenny and Olympian YAC athlete Aoife McGeehan fifth in the javelin and discus.

In the high jump, Anderson was joint fifth while Elliott was seventh and Eva Ni Luadhog of Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair eighth.