A day - and a course - like no other as four European medals return to Donegal club

It was a cross country course like no other – and a day like few others for Irish athletics.

On Sunday, four athletes from Donegal clubs collected medals at the European Cross Country Championships in Turin.

Finn Valley AC's Sean McGinley began the day with a 12th place finish to take the Ireland under-20s to team silver.

A little later, Finn Valley AC twins Eilish and Roisin Flanagan were 11th and 12th to lead the charge for Ireland's senior women, also including Ann-Marie McGlynn of Letterkenny AC to take bronze.

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The medals were up for grabs in each event when the participants weaved into La Mandria Castle. A 50-metre indoor section of the 19th century building offered brief solace from the trying underfoot conditions and the punishing uphill section that belied the usually lush-green lawns.

The royal apartments of the Borgo Castello towered over the runners as they slogged their way through the muck, punctured only by that albeit brief surge past the carriages inside.

“I don't think I have ever run in tougher,” McGlynn, the oldest participant in the race at 42, said.

The Letterkenny AC woman, who was a super fourth at the recent national championships in Rosapenna, finished 31st in 28 minutes and 40 seconds.

“I was thinking we were optimistically looking at fifth. When I heard we were one and a half points away, I thought here we go again.”

McGlynn's mind wandered back to 2014 when the Irish women were left in agony, missing a podium berth by inches.

“The girls up front were phenomenal. It's a great way to end the year.

“It was tough. It was slippery uphill and the downhills were steep.

“You just had to stay on it, stay focussed and try to hold off people. Big names were standing at the side at the end – we just got the opportunity and took it.”

Just a week beforehand, Eilish Flanagan was set to stay in her apartment in Alamosa, Colorado. Initially not selected for duty, she got the call following the enforced withdrawal of Ciara Mageean through injury.

Flanagan ended as the lead Irish competitor, crossing in 11th in 27:38.

“I was grateful for the opportunity and I definitely had a little chip on the shoulder, which helped get me over the line and keep me going,” she said.

“We weren't really expected to get a medal after Fionnuala (McCormack) and Ciara had to drop out.

“Ann-Marie's reaction when we realised that we got the medal said it all. It was a day to remember.

“It wasn't over until the final lap. It was about maintaining position at that stage. The course is very demanding. I just gave it my all on that last lap.”

For much of the race, Flanagan was side-by-side with identical twin Roisin. The US based sisters, who are coached by Damon Martin in Colorado, could only be told apart by the E and R on the front of the Irish singlet.

They were given identical times; a remarkable quirk with each finishing in 27:38, with Eilish 11th and Roisin 12th on the official results. With Mary Mulhare in 27th, Ireland finished five points ahead of Spain – 50 against 55.

“It's a great step for us all heading into 2023,” said Roisin Flanagan. “We're all delighted to end 2022 with a medal.”

They were just four seconds of Veerle Bakker, the Netherlands runner who was tenth.

The park is surrounded by a 30km-long wall built in the mid-19th century by Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia and it was here that Irish athletics claimed another excellent outing – perhaps even surpassing expectations.

“We are absolutely delighted from an Irish perspective,” said Teresa McDaid, the Letterkenny AC woman who is the operations manager with the senior women.

“It was our best ever European Championships. We didn't think that we could top last year, but here we are.

“Middle distance running has moved on significantly. We have massive representation at major championships so we are in a good place.

“We're really excited going forward. There are opportunities out there now.”

When McGinley finished sixth in the junior men's race in Rosapenna, few were aware that he was inhibited by a sickness in the build up.

Beneath the Sandy Hills, McGinley cut a frustrated figure. In Turin, cheers on by some family and eked on by a familiar Glenswilly flag fluttering, McGinley finished 12th and the third Irish scorer (Nick Griggs and Dean Casey were second and third).

Coached by John Rogan at Finn Valley, McGinley has had a fine 2022 on track and in cross.

“I didn't expect that performance,” he admitted.

“I set out for a top 15 or top 20. I paced the race well and finished well. It was a very proud moment to stand on the podium ad get the silver medal.

“We had hoped to be close to a medal. We just weren't sure of the colour.

“The first thing I asked when I got over the line was where Nick and Dean came and I thought we were in with a chance of winning. It was great to get second. I'm over the moon with second at the European Championships.

“The nationals didn't quite go my way, so I was delighted to come back and get another chance to show that I'm better than that. Hopefully I can come back stronger than that again next year.”