The Clonliffe crew split their Saint Patrick’s Day between the Tallaght 5K and the Streets of Portlaoise 5K. In Tallaght, where the race was won by Mitchell Byrne (Rathfarnham) in 15.03, first Clonliffe athlete home was Lorcan Benjacar, in 5th place, 1st U/20, in 15.39. Abdi Ali, who is in the process of completing his transfer into Clonliffe, was only a matter of seconds behind Lorcan in 15.44. Cathal McHale was 8th (15.55). The team finished 2nd: Lorcan, Cathal, Ryan Sheridan (17.07) and making his 2nd coming Ian MsAweeney (17.30). Other Clonliffe Liam Arthur 18.23, Tadhg Cowley 18.28, Peter Bissett 18.53, Roy Stoneley 19.24, on his Clonliffe debut Ibrahim Umar 19.48, Scott Crowley 20.24, Sinead McDermott 21.24, Ben Power 22.00, Orla Deignan 22.32.
In Portlaoise Fintan Kerins took 5th position in a time of 15.07 behind race winner Pierre Murchan (DCH) 14.24. The rest of the crew: Sean Heaslip Owens was 17th (15.47). Sarah Bateson ran 18.37, Sarah Hawkshaw 19.51, Jess Gallagher, currently transferring in 20.05, next in her first race for Clonliffe, and running something like a 3 minute PB was Alanna Burke 20.06, Katie Halpin 21.32 and Niamh Belton 22.11.
Also on Patrick’s Day the Mullingar Half Marathon: 20th Sean McGarrity 78.51, Shane Keville 1:27.42, Mo McCrohan 1:42.19, Nosipho Mjiyakho 3:01.58.
Bank Holiday Monday the 18th at the Skerries 10K Declan Power made a successful return to the circuit placing 5th and 1st M50 (35.13), also Matt McGuinness 13th in 37.49 and Alan Worrall 83rd 46.47.
Proceeding the 10k in Skerries was a juvenile mile race where there was a Clonliffe one, two, three as Jack Quinn took 1st, Tadgh Cowley 2nd and Sam O’Reilly 3rd.