Raheny Shamrock AC experienced a day of high drama at Round Two of the National Indoor Athletics League in the Athlone International Arena, with the men’s team securing qualification for the national final in 8th place, while the women narrowly missed out despite several strong individual performances.
Men’s Team – Through by the Finest of Margins
The men’s qualification could hardly have been tighter. Raheny Shamrock finished 8th overall, the final qualifying position, with 120 points. They were locked level on points with Leevale AC (7th), just one point behind Donore Harriers (6th), and crucially one point clear of Newbridge AC (9th). Every performance mattered — and Raheny delivered when it counted.
In the 60m, Davyd Konovalov got the day off to a strong start, finishing third in his race in 7.15 seconds, placing 7th overall and setting the tone for the team.
The grit and determination of Luke Murphy summed up the team spirit on the day. Murphy finished 5th in the 1500m in 4:02.15, battling through extremely difficult racing conditions with a packed 14-man field. Determined to maximise points and help secure qualification, Murphy later stepped up again — switching from running to walking in the 1500m walk, where he placed 8th in 11:18.34, a selfless contribution that proved vital in the final standings.
In the field events, Ibrahim Halil continued his excellent indoor season. He placed 8th in the Long Jump with 5.84m, before excelling in his favoured High Jump, where he cleared 1.85m for second place, delivering a crucial haul of points. Stephen Morgan added further depth, finishing 10th with a best performance of 7.67m in the Shot Put.
The 4x200m relay team of Davyd Konovalov, Stephen Morgan, Michael Fogarty and Theo Durcane finished third in their heat and 9th overall. The race marked Raheny debuts for Fogarty and Durcane, with Durcane joining the club from France, and both acquitting themselves superbly on the national stage.
With nerves stretched to the limit, the final confirmation of qualification was met with huge relief and celebration.
Women’s Team – Promising Performances Despite Missing Out
The women’s team finished 12th overall and unfortunately did not progress to the final. While the result was disappointing, there were many encouraging signs and strong individual performances to build on.
In the 60m, Ella McCann produced a brilliant run, finishing third in her race in a personal best of 8.12 seconds, placing 8th overall.
The 400m saw Siobhan Kearney make her Raheny Shamrock debut, stepping up from her usual 60m distance to finish 4th in 68.94 seconds.
Over 1500m, Zoe Quinn finished 12th in 5:25, while newly appointed Women’s Captain Clodagh Foley represented the club in the 1500m walk, taking 9th place and leading from the front in her new role.
Club stalwart Helen Buckley once again delivered in the field, placing 6th in the Shot Put with a throw of 8.47m, while 16-year-old Penny Clarke Doran impressed in the Long Jump, recording a best leap of 4.35m and gaining valuable experience at senior level.
The 4x200m relay team of Eryn Taheny, Ella McCann, Siobhan Kearney and Sara Codrea finished 8th overall in 1:50.78. The race marked a Raheny debut for Sara Codrea, rounding off a positive day for new faces in the squad.
While qualification ultimately proved just out of reach, the women will take plenty of confidence from their performances and will look to make significant strides in the Outdoor League during the summer. Special thanks are due to Kay Bannon for her work in organising and managing the women’s team throughout the campaign.
Attention now turns firmly to the National Indoor League Final, where the Raheny Shamrock men go again next Saturday, February 14th, in Abbotstown. Having already proven their ability to fight tooth and nail for every point, the team will head into the final with belief, momentum, and nothing to lose.
One more big push remains. 🟢⚪
Siobhan Kearney, Eryn Taheny, Ella McCann, Sara Codrea
Stephen Morgan, Theo Durcane, Davyd Konovalov, Michael Fogarty
