Sunday, August 9 is a day that will live long in the memory as the Clonliffe Harriers men’s track and field team regained the national track and field league title and to make it even more special to do so at home in Morton Stadium. This was a fantastic team effort as every single member of the team performed with guts, determination and that ‘nil desperandum’ spirit that flows through the veins of the Clonliffe Harrier. The team hit the ground running and from the 1st event topped the standings fighting off a hard chasing defending champions DSD. Clonliffe were never knocked off the top from beginning to end. At the end of the day the team standings showed Clonliffe on 144 points with DSD on 124 and Crusaders in 3rd place on 90.
First into the trenches was the ever dependable Simon Galligan, an athlete who has had an injury ravaged season, and only got back into full training a month ago. In that period he has won national hammer bronze and yesterday took maximum points in the hammer with a throw of 56.79. Speaking of ever dependable in the pole vault was an athlete who all of 26 years ago won his first national senior title, David Donegan, who put together an impeccable series of vaults right up to a season’s best 4.20 to finish in 2nd place.
There was then a slight hic cup as Niall Carney was DQ’d in the 110 hurdles. In the long jump Anthony Dillon answered Clonliffe’s call stepping up to the mark in a very unfamiliar events to score a valuable point. Back on track at this stage Greg Hosseny contributed his usual maximum points, living up to his (self) named title of ‘Nine-points Hoss’ in the 1500 race walk, Greg winning the Premier division in 8.18.01, a winning margin of almost 1 and 1/2 minutes.
Back in the throws circle it was the turn of Eoin Sheridan who won the shot with a best of 13.96 and an hour later also won the discus (50.15), contributing a significant 18 points to the cause. Niall Allen, despite nursing a back injury courtesy of 2 days competition at the National Masters on Friday and Saturday took 2nd place, and 7 points, in the WFD with a best of 6.45.
Niall Carney had dusted himself off after his 110 hurdles disappointment to put in an excellent run in the 400 hurdles finishing 2nd in 56.66. Then there was the 4 x 100 relay where the Clonliffe team of Brandon Muchini, Bilal Kanimodo, Finley McGill and Chris Sibanda exceeded all expectations and with some slick baton exchanges took a brilliant 1st place in a time of 41.77. That time is not far off the existing club record of 41.42.
The 1500 was a very strange race as the athletes were nearly falling over one another over on a very pedestrian opening lap, until the field was blown apart with an injection of pace with 800 to go, Fintan Kerins battled brilliantly over the final 300 in a very tight finish to take 3rd place, the top 4 separated by less than a second. . In the 400 Christopher Lynch also put in an excellent performance taking 2nd place in 48.56.
In the meantime Eamonn Fahey had once again answered the call and was competing in what could be termed ‘not his chosen events’ as he took 4th place in the triple jump (11.46) and 6th in the high jump (1.65).
At this stage in the points standings it was neck and neck between Clonliffe and DSD, although Clonliffe had the lead on cumulative points, calculating the ‘dropped results’ there were only a few points in the differential. Then however came a golden period for the black and amber. First up it was young Matei Ursachi who in the 3000 steeplechase performed like a veteran, he was always at the top end, then with 3 to go he took the lead (this was a combined race), at the bell he was overtaken by an athlete competing in the county league, but undeterred he gathered himself for the final sprint to come home the race winner in an excellent 9.30.63 and more importantly 9 points in the bag. Ben Guiden did likewise in the 5000, always in control and watching every move, and only hitting the front with 300 to go winning in 15.18.01, another 9 points. In the meantime in the infield the javelin was taking place where again another 9 points were secured, thanks to Euan Canniffe who threw a season’s best of 50.37. Then it was the 100 where Chris Sibanda rolled back the years to take a fantastic win in 10.98.
Sandwiched between these 9 pointers was a battling 4th place and 5 points, for Bilal Kanimodo in the 200 (22.64) and a 3rd place finish, 6 points, by Sean Carrigg in a brilliant 800 race, Sean clocking 1.54.26.
With one final event to go, the 4 x 400 relay, victory was already assured. The relay boys: Finley McGill, Tom Bolton, Damien Prendergast and Christopher Lynch, did not however just go out for a lap of honour but delivered a brilliant win and another 9 points winning in 3.22.70.
So, 10 wins, 4 second places and 2 third places saw the Clonliffe men take a 14th National track and field league title. In the words of wisdom of Van the Man: “Momma always told me there be days like this.”
