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The Clonliffe Men’s team battled gamely in Tullamore at today’s National League final.   Having last year made it a hat-trick of wins in the premier division the team were not going to let the title and the prospect of a fourth successive title slip lightly from their grasp.  Thus a daylong battle ensued from the gun with Timmy Crowe taking to the track in the 110 hurdles to the conclusion of proceedings with the 4 x 400 relay at approximately 6 p.m.  In between the full range of track and field events and emotions to boot.

Despite the scoring system providing that it is a clubs 17 best events that counts towards the overall score a clear picture as to precisely how proceedings stood emerged from early such was the margin of victory.

Once again the field eventers proved to be particularly strong point scorers for Clonliffe with maximum points being scored by Niall Counihan in the triple jump, Keith Marks in the long jump, Stephen Rice in the javelin and Simon Galligan in the hammer.

There were also maximum points contributed on the track by Leo Morgan 100  Jayme Rossister 3000sc, Colm Rooney 1500 and 4 x 100 relay.

In addition there were high scoring points achieved across the range of events and whilst it is always unfair to single out individuals considerable praise must go to athletes who took in more than one event in particular Timmy Crowe who took in the 110 hurdles and the 400 hurdles, multi-eventer Rolus Olusa who contributed greatly to the points total in the pole vault, discuss and 4 x 100 relay, Luke Mangan in the shot and 56lbs.

At the end of a long, tiring and satisfying day the Clonliffe team topped the standings on 127 points from Galway City Harriers on 98 to make it four national track and field titles in a row and now look forward to a further European adventure in May of 2019..

Credit of course must go to the athletes for putting in such a strong effort after what has been a very long and tiring season, to the club captain Joe Cooper and to the coaches.

Nil desperandum.

There is a strong Clonliffe team looking to defend the national league title in Tullamore this Sunday. Clonliffe are not only the reigning National League champions but also are looking to complete another double having captured the indoor league title at the commencement of 2018. A tough battle is expected with stiff competition all round and all will have to be at their best if there is to be any prospect of the national title being brought back to Santry.

The team is:

Race walk – Greg Hossenny

100 – Leo Morgan

200 – Pascal Touche

400 – Mark McDonald

800 – Richie Owens

1500 – Colm Rooney

5000 – David Flynn

110h/400h – Timmy Crowe

3000 SC – Jayme Rossiter

Pole Vaut/Discus – Rolus Olusa

Shot/56lbs – Luke Mangan

Hammer – Simon Galligan

Long jump – Keith Marks

Triple jump – Niall Counihan

High jump – Marcin Klincosz

Javelin – Stephen Rice

4 x 100 (from) – Leo Morgan, Pascal Touche, Keith Marks, Rolus Olusa, Mark McDonald

4 x 400 (from) – Mark McDonald, Timmy Crowe, Richie Owens, Colm Rooney, Sean Carrig, Pascal Touche.

The bus travelling to Tullamore will leave Morton Stadium on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. sharp.

Today saw round 2 of the National league take place in Morton Stadium. Both men and women`s teams put in really good performances with the men ending the day top of the pile and the women showing a quite remarkable return to form after a disappointing round 1 to finish 2nd. Looks like athletes will need to keep their training up a little longer with the final in Tullamore on August 19th.

Performance of the day went to Stephen Rice on his return to competition after injury with with a 67.70m throw just shy of his pb and then a monster throw of 75.55, but fouled!! Still a big win for the club. Other excellent wins included Leo Morgan`s 100 in a new pb of 10.74, the 4 x 100, Colm Rooney in the 1500, Simon Galligan in the hammer, Niall Counihan in the triple jump, Timmy Crowe 400H.

At the close of business the black `n`amber head the charts (provisionally) on 133, Finn Valley 116, Tipperary 104, Donore 98.

The women`s team really rallied today with the 4 x 100 team, who had won national u/19 24 hours previously, winning and likewise the 4 x 400. Wins also for Leah Moore in the 100 and Leah Bergin in the 400 and a 2nd place for Shannon Sheehy in the high jump. Other highlights included an excellent pb of 5.00.28 and 3rd place by the baby of the squad Sarah Bateson , who had put in a great run the previous day on the U/17 4 x 400 silver winning team in Tullamore, and of course from the ultimate club woman Snezana Bechtina 3rd place in both the pole vault and triple jump.

The provisionally results show Louth County 102, Clonliffe 97, Tipperary 91, Donore 90.

The Clonliffe men and women’s teams head to the Mary Peters track in Belfast for round 1 of the National League on Sunday morning.

Both teams are in the premier division with the men’s team on Sunday competing against Raheny Shamrocks, Donore Harriers, DSD, Crusaders, Kilkenny City Harriers and Finn Valley AC.

Drawn in the women’s group are DSD, Raheny, Donore, Finn Valley, Meath Athletics and Louth Athletics.

Round 2 follows at Morton Stadium on July 8^th with the league final for those teams that make it through being the last track and field event of the season taking place in Tullamore on August 19^th.

The men’s team are defending champions but will face very stiff competition this year, at stake is not only the National title but also a place in Europe at the European Champion Clubs Championships Group B. Whilst the women will look to make the final and thereafter hopefully be in the hunt for medals but really the goal from the women’s point of view, with what will be a team very much blending a mix of experience and youth, will be preservation of premier league status.

The coach for athletes competing on the teams on Sunday will leave Morton Stadium at 8.30 a.m. sharp. (Please let your caption know if you are making your own travel arrangements)

Good luck to all.

The Clonliffe men successfully retained the National Track & Field Premier League title in pretty poor conditions indeed in Tullamore today. (Officially confirmed)

It was a win built firmly on the performances of the club`s field eventers where maximum points were taken in 6 of 9 field events: Dave Donegan winning the pole vault (4.20m), Simon Galligan the hammer (54.43m), Luke Mangan shot (13.34), Keith Marks high jump (1.75m), Andri Mahin triple jump (13.50m) and Stephen Rice javelin (58.41). To complete the almost total dominance in the field Luke Mangan was 2nd in the Weight for Distance, Keith Marks was 3rd in the long jump and Roulus Olusa 3rd in the discus.

On the track there was a win for the 4 X 100 team in 43.00 and then valuable top three scores in most events:

1500 Eoin Pierce 2nd (4.15.24), 100 Leo Morgan 2nd (10.88), 110H Rolus Olusa 3rd (15.45), 400H Timmy Crowe 3rd (56.35), 3000 race walk Greg Hosseny 3rd (15.59.48), Jayme Rossister 3rd in the 3000 sc in 9.43.50, Brian MacMahon 3rd in the 5000 (15.27.11), Richie Owens 3rd in the 800 1.57.03.

Other scores chipped in towards the win came from Mark McDonald who was 4th in the 400 (51.38) and then two 6th places Keith Marks 200 (23.52) and the 4 x 400 team.

At the end of a long day the Clonliffe men placed 1st with Crusaders AC, the margin, was significant, with Tipperary Country 3rd.

Final points:

1st Clonliffe 142

2nd Crusaders AC 130 points

3rd Tipperary County 109.5

4th Raheny 96 points

5th DSD 94.5

6th GCH 82 points

7th Menapians 73 points

With each team`s 4 worst scoring points to be dropped, the end result was Clonliffe 1st 125 points and Crusaders AC a single point behind on 124!

Many congratulations to Joe and the team and as always a huge thank you to the coaches. Nil desperandum!

Above: Keith Marks goes clear to win High Jump

National League Champions 2017

The Clonliffe Harriers Men’s Team will defend the National League title on Sunday in Tullamore. After two qualifying rounds Sunday’s final includes seven clubs and one county.  Clonliffe will face Crusaders A.C., Leevale A.C., DSD, Galway City Harriers, Menapians A.C., Raheny Shamrocks and Tipperary County.

The winning club in this prestigious championship will represent Ireland in the European Clubs Track and Field next summer. An event at which Clonliffe performed superbly this year when the team finished 3^rd in Group B in Portugal.

Proceedings will get underway in Tullamore at 11.30 a.m. and will conclude with the 4 x 400 at 5.20 p.m.

The team for Sunday is : 100/200 Leo Morgan,  400 Mark McDonald,  800 Richie Owens, 1500 Eoin Pierce, 5000 Brian MacMahon,  3000 sc Jayme Rossiter, 110H Rolus Oulsa, 400H Timmy Crowe,  PV Dave Donegan, Triple Jump Andri Mahin, Long Jump/High Jump Keith Marks, Shot/56 lbs Luke Mangan,  Hammer Simon Galligan. Discus Rolus Oulsa,  Javelin Stephen Rice,  Walk Greg Hossnney, 56lbs, 4×100 from K Pike. I Ibeanu. K Marks. R Oulsa. L Morgan. 4 x 400 from M. McDonald, T. Crowe, R. Owens, E. Pierce, AN Other.

Meet clubhouse at 9.00am on Sunday morning. All support welcomed!

Good luck to Joe and the team. Nil desperandum.

Clonliffe Harriers defending champions, and 3^rd place in the European Clubs B Group this year, got the defence of the national title off to a tip top start in topping the standings at the end of the first round.

Clonliffe were drawn for the round in the Tallaght stadium along with DSD, Raheny, St. Abbans, Kildare County, Donore Harriers and Finn Valley.

With wins clocked up by Rory Gunning in the javelin (56.25m), Andri Mahin in the triple jump (13.41m), in the Hammer Simon Galligan (55.80m), Pole Vault David Donegan (4.20m) and Leo Morgan in the 100 (10.98) things got off to a very solid start. 2^nd place positions and good points contribution were also chipped in by Eoin McCullough in the Steeplechase (10.14.71), Rouls Olusa, 2^nd in the 110 hurdles in 16.39 and 2^nd also in the Discus (37.41m) and also double 2^nd by Keith Marks – High Jump 1.90m, Long Jump 7.06m, there was also 2^nd place by Luke Mangan in the shot (14.24m).  In the relay the 4 x 100 team also placed 2^nd 43.50 and indeed the 4 x 400 squad were also 2^nd 3.27.47.  Other Clonliffe performances in Tallaght included Mark McDonald running a 400 PB in 3^rd place of 50.58, young Greg Hosenay finishing 3^rd in the 3000 walk, Adam O’Brien 4^th in the 1500 and Dara Kervick 4^th in the 200 (22.33).  In the 800 Shaun Connaghan was 7^th in the 800 in 2.02.20 and Liam Roarty was a fine 3^rd in the 5000 in 15.55.15.

At the end of the day Clonliffe had 125 points and topped the standings between the two venues.

The Women’s team were also in action in Tallaght but not being in a position to cover all of the events found the going fairly tough and ended the day in 6^th place.  There was a win on the day in the javelin from Denise Byrne (35.93) and maximum points also contributed by Caoimhe Morris in the Hammer (42.20).  Some of the club’s younger athletes put in fine performances, notably Hannah Browne 3^rd in the 1500, Rebecca Fitzsimons 5^th in the 100, Raffa Diamond Ebbs 6^th in the Long Jump and then both girls competing on the 4 x 100 relay team that placed 4^th.  Other performances from the ladies on the day:  Emma Kelly 4^th in the 400 hurdles (71.70), Leah Bergin 4^th in the 400, Louise Carragher 5^th in the 3000, Emma Kelly 4^th in the 200, Eimear Treacy 3^rd in the 800 (2.23.52), in the 4 x 400 relay the team placed 3^rd (4.06.86), Denise Byrne also placed 6^th in the Shot Putt (7.51) and 3^rd in the Discus whilst Diana Markina was 5^th in the High Jump.

The second round of the league takes place on July 30^th.