Caolan McFadden: "I had to win this. This is for Creeslough."

As he came down the hill, the familiar waters of Sheephaven Bay peeking into view, Caolan McFadden found – from somewhere – another gear.

The home soil and the home support worked its magic.

Over the last couple of hundred metres of the 4000m race, McFadden dug deepest and moved away from South Sligo AC' Francis Donoghue to be crowed the national under-16 cross country champion.

Just six weeks ago, the heart of Creeslough, where he lives, was ripped apart when a horrific explosion at the filling station complex claimed 10 lives.

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With Cranford AC hosting the nationals as they visited Donegal for the first time in 23 years, McFadden might've been weighed down by the pressure, but he found a way to see off Donoghue and Matei Ursachi of Clonliffe Harriers.

“I had to win this,” McFadden told Donegal Live.

!I did this today for my community. This was for Creeslough. That means a lot to me and I know it will mean a lot to Creeslough.

“It has been a very tough few weeks. It was an awful tragedy in the community.”

Sixty-one years ago, Eamon Giles founded Cranford AC. On Sunday, Giles had the proud honour of draping a national gold medal around the star athlete he now coaches just yards from where the biggest moment of McFadden's career arrived.

McFadden said: Coming over the line, I couldn't believe it. I didn't know how to celebrate or anything. I'm just over the moon.

“I don't know if I have the words for this.”

Caolan McFadden with John Cronin and Eamon Giles.  Photo: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Like the winning kick, he found the words alright. Just like his finish, they too struck the perfect tone.

“It's so special for people like Eamon Giles, who founded the club,” he said.

“It's excellent for everyone at Cranford AC, but especially for Eamon since the founded the club. For Eamon to get this is Donegal, must be unbelievable. “

Two weeks ago, McFadden was crowned Ulster Under-17 champion in Stranorlar – running a year out of his age group. McFadden's is a singlet that has been on the radar for some time now and this year he was a national gold medallist over 800m and 1500m on the track.

In two weeks time, he'll target a top six place in the national uneven ages championships, competing in the under-17 division. The first six will get a chance to compete internationally.

Familiar faces dotted the course as McFadden delivered the performance befitting the stage.

He said: “I feel great. I don't know where I got that burst of energy coming down the straight. The home crowd was a real help, they were roaring me on so much.

“This is the highlight of my career so far. It means a lot for me.

“During the race, it was very fast and it was hard to know what the form was, but I found the energy at the end.”

His recent successes meant that McFadden carried a certain pressure to the start line on Sunday.

Not that you'd think it as he basked in the afterglow, embraced by emotional family and friends; tears of joy, now.

“It was just like I was coming to training,” McFadden shrugged. “Sure, it's just over the road.

“On the line, I was nervous and worried that it wouldn't go well. My whole family are here and it's the first time for some of them to see me run. It's special.”