A stunning performance by Clonliffe`s marathon men in today`s Dublin City Marathon saw the guys place 3rd, 6th and 9th for Sergiu Ciobanu, Gary O`Hanlon and Michael MacDiarmada, all three were also scorers on the victorious National Cross Country team last March, and now add the National Marathon title to the collection.
Sergiu also took bronze in a time of 2.22.04 with splits of 33.24, 10k, 70.04 at half way and 1.47.19 at 20, behind new National Champion, and first Irish Dublin Marathon winner since John Treacy in 1993, Sean Hehir (Rathfarnham) in 2.18.21 and DSD`s Joe Sweeney (2.19.29).
Gary`s time for 6th place was 2.23.54. Splits: 34.02, 72.14 and 1.49.16, Gary knocking some three minutes off his pb. A stunning marathon debut for Michael MacDiarmada in 9th place 2.25.53 with splits of 34.01, 72.22 and 1.50.27.
The National team title is decided on the cumulative time of a club`s first three finishers and with a total time of 7.11.50 the guys took the title by a massive twenty minutes and one second from Crusaders AC in second.
Next Clonliffe man home after a superb run was Chris Muldoon in a time of 2.38.58, 1.19.24 at half way, great runs also from Ciaran McCarthy 2.40.48 and Conor Delaney 2.51.56 (half in 1.23.56). Mark Bermingham just finished just out of the three hour mark in 3.00.41, however, that doesn`t tell the true story as Mark, in true sporting spirit put his own aspirations to one side and aided a fellow athlete who was in some degree of trouble basically talking him home. The Eustace gang were out in force Ivan 3.04.16, Stephen 3.15.07 and Stephen 3.15.07. Pat Byrne also had a very good run recording a time of 3.10.12.
Other Clonliffe Colm McDonnell 3.15.01, Mark Dowling 3.15.51, Johnny Bradley Ward 3.19.06, after a fair old struggle, Johnny was well on for sub three but hit troubled waters over the last six mile, Alan Worall describing it as “very tough today” 3.27.08, Anthony O`Brien 3.21.03, Cathal O`Sullivan 3.24.45, Kevin Sheehy 3.31.38, Brendan Donnelly 3.40.22, Seamus Greenan 3.53.04, Pat Devitt 3.59.19 and David Gomm 5.15.05.
Of the Clonliffe ladies, there were a string of pb`s recorded including a very fine run indeed from Jacqui Dunphy 3.18.11 (pb), and from Alison O`Sullivan 3.25.17 (pb), Sinead Duffy 3.35.51, Ciara O`Regan 3.50.44 (pb), Janette Reid 4.08.32, pb`s also for Sinead and Grainne Ni Bhrain 4.14.41.
A special mention of the Colonel, Frank Behan who has successfully completed yet another Dublin City Marathon (6.40.43) to maintain his 100% record of completing every single Dublin Marathon to date.
On the team front, in addition to the senior men`s 1st place, the O/35 master`s team (Chris Muldoon, Ciaran McCarthy, Conor Delaney) placed 5th, likewise the O/50 team (Pat Byrne, Cathal O`Sullivan, Seamus Greenan) were also 5th. The O/35 women went one better with the trio of Jacqui Dunphy, Alison O`Sullivan and Sinead Duffy finishing just off the medals in 4th.
Congratulations to all our athletes today, and also to the Clonliffe gang who assisted in every way with another great Dublin Marathon.