Dewhirst and McFadden ease to golds as Donegal athletes medal at North West Games

Ethan Dewhirst and Caolan McFadden competed at the U18 European Championships in Slovakia and they closed out their 2024 with victories at the North West Games in Athlone.

Tir Chonaill AC’s Dewhirst won over 400m with Cranford AC’s McFadden victorious in a 1500m at the TUS Arena on a day that saw a neat sprinkling of success for Donegal athletes. 

Dewhirst powered to victory in the U18 400m, easing home in 50.59 seconds. Dewhirst saw off Cranford AC’s Michael Moore, who took silver in 53.22 seconds.

In the 200m, Dewhirst left with a silver after crossing the line in 23.09 seconds with only Conor McDonagh of South Sligo ahead of him in 22.65 seconds.

In July, Dewhirst completed at the European U18 Athletics Championships and reached the 400m hurdles semi-finals. In his semi-final, Dewshirst finished fourth having clocked a lifetime best of 52.65 seconds in his heat in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia.

Moore won the U18 800m in 2:00.88 with Tir Chonaill AC’s Caolan Gilbride second in 2:01.22.

In the combined U16, U18 and senior men’s race over 1500m, Cranford AC’s rising ace McFadden took victory. McFadden finished in 3:56.78 for the win in a race that saw Gilbride finish in third.

McFadden had also competed at the U18 Europeans - finishing ninth in a 1500m heat.

Niamh Moohan won the senior women’s long jump. Moohan recorded a best jump of 4.40m to win from Rosses AC’s Leah Ni Ghairbhigh, who was second thanks to a jump of 4.32m. Over the 60m hurdles, Moohan collected silver, finishing in 9.53 seconds.

Jamie Kenney of Tir Chonaill AC won the U18 triple jump thanks to a best leap of 12.41m.

Cranford’s Amy Cullen took victory in the U18 200m, finishing in a new personal best of 26.87 seconds to win from Tramore’s Caoimhe Murphy and Alice Sinclair from Dundrum South Dublin.

Finn Valley AC’s Bonnie Devlin won the U14 800m, going around in 2:31.62 and she was fifth in the 200m.

Finn Valley AC’s Zach McKinley grabbed a fine silver in the U12 600m when going 1:48.90. The Newtown schoolboy was beaten only by Athlone AC’s Cillian McManus, who won in 1:48.59.

Completing a fine day for the Dewhirsts, Catriona Dewhirst earned silver in the U16 shot via a 9.38m effort while Rosses AC athlete Rosie Breslin cleared 1.25m for silver in the U12 high jump.

Tir Chonaill AC’s Mark Boyle-Gildea took a pair of bronze medals. Boyle-Gildea was third in the U14 shot, throwing out to 11.55m, and soared over the bar at 1.40m for high jump bronze too.

Rosses AC’s Caitlin Sweeney was third in the U12 long jump, leaping to 4.07m.

Jacoby McHugh from Tir Chonaill AC was third in the U16 shot, reaching to a best of 10.43m.

Oisin McBride was third in the U14 800m in 2:16.33 and the Cranford AC athlete was fifth over 200m.

Ellen James of Tir Chonaill was third in the U14 60m sprint, clocking 8.60 seconds, and came fifth in the long jump while Matthew Leslie, also of Tir Chonaill AC, finished third in the U16 60m.

Read next: In pictures: Margins thin as Sean McGinley wins Finn Valley AC 5k

There were several Donegal athletes who were just outside of podium spots while Dylan Curley of Olympian YAC won a mixed club relay gold at U14 level.