This weekend will be yet another busy one for Lifford AC senior and juvenile athletes, with athletes in action from Estonia to Santry to Tullamore.
Following on from her selection to the Irish Cross Country team last year, Lifford AC’s Anne Marie McGlynn’s will be in action in Estonia, representing Ireland at the European Team Championships.
McGlynn will go in the 1500m and has proved herself to now be among Ireland’s leading middle distance athletes. The Strabane athlete deservedly joins a star studded mens and womens team which includes Fionnuala Britton, Kelly Proper, Mark English and Paul Robinson. Everyone at Lifford AC wishes Anne Marie the best of luck this weekend.
On Saturday, 14 year old Brendan O’Donnell will represent Ulster at the Tailteann Games in Santry. The Inter Provincial schools competition is the official trial for selection for the Irish Schools team which will compete against England, Scotland and Wales at the Schools International in Cardiff on the 19th July.
Representing St Eunans College, Letterkenny, O’Donnell is still only a junior competing at intermediate level and has been selected for Ulster based on his recent outstanding hammer throw performances which included gold at the recent All Ireland Schools Championships.
Also on Saturday, five young athletes will make the journey to Tullamore to represent Lifford AC at the All Ireland Childrens Games. In the Under 9 Long Jump and 60m, Ballybofey’s Martin Mbuli and St Johnston lad Joshua McGlinchey will be in action while in the Under 10 boys, Lifford’s Oran Gallagher will partner Harvey Mullen in the 500m and Carrickmore’s Patrick Sweeney in the Long Jump.
These young athletes have already done themselves, their parents and club proud by qualifying for these Championships which will hopefully be the first stepping stones to representation at the All Irelands for years to come. At these young ages, the key to success is enjoyment first and foremost and if medals make their way northwards on Saturday evening, this will be an added bonus to the whole experience.