Martin Cunningham, Kevea Gallagher lead the charge at Donegal Novice Cross Country

Martin Cunningham and Kevea Gallagher were crowned as Donegal Novice Cross Country Champions on Sunday.

In winning the individual golds, Cunningham and Gallagher guided Tir Chonaill AC and Rosses AC to the respective team titles in Carndonagh, the event hosted by Inishowen AC.

Carrick man Cunningham, who has competed at the European Masters Championships, was a late returnee to athletics after 20 years away - during which time he was playing Gaelic football with Naomh Columba.

Cunningham won a battle with Ryan Quinn of Finn Valley AC who finished second with another Tir Chonaill AC man, Donal Murrin, in third. 

Lee Breslin in sixth and Declan Gallagher in 10th completed the scoring for the winning TIr Chonaill men.

Letterkenny took the second team, with fifth-placed Dale Corbett the lead runner. Cian Friel (7), Steven Gibson (17) and Michael Mooney (20) also involved.

Finn Valley took team bronze through Quinn, Gary Gallagher (8), Michael Gallagher (23) and Kieran Neeson (26).

Rosses AC’s Kevea Gallagher surged to a memorable gold in the women’s race. In a dominant Rosses AC display, they eased to team golds.

Gallagher was followed by Ashleigh Nic Suibhne and Martina Mulhern to take a clean sweep on the podium. Indeed, Rosses has the first five women to finish with Sarah Mulholland and Nicole O’Donnell fourth and fifth.

Inishowen, led by Claire O’Donnell in ninth, landed team silvers. O’Donnell was joined by Ruth Doherty (10), Emer Grant (11) and Emile McLaughlin (13).

The uneven ages championships also took place.

Letterkenny AC’s Sarah Henry and Emma Bonar grabbed hold of the U19 and U17 girls golds. 

Finn Valley had team golds in the U15 girls and boys, U13 girls and U11 boys while Letterkenny left with the U19 girls, U17 boys, U17 girls and U11 girls crowns and the U13 boys gold was won by Cranford.