Dublin Clubs roundup, 01 November 2026

At the Dublin Cross-Country Championships held at Abbotstown on Sunday (November 1), Paul O’Donnell (Dundrum South Dublin AC) was the winner of the men’s senior race while with four finishers in the top six, Clonliffe Harriers proved unstoppable in the men’s team competition. O’Donnell, better known these days as a marathon man, had broken away on the second of five laps laps and completed the 7.5km course in 23 mins 13 secs. Members of the strong Clonliffe Harriers team, including defending champion Colm Rooney, had forced the pace from the start of the race and even after O’Donnell took over in front, they didn’t give up. Rooney chased him hard in the final stages of the race, finishing just five seconds adrift in 23:20 while Fintan Kerins was third in 23:30. For the lads in black and amber it was an eighth consecutive team title and they were presented with the Padraig Keane Memorial Trophy after the race by two of the Keane grandchildren. The trophy remembers the great Padraig Keane a Clonliffe Harriers and Dublin Athletics legend, who died in January 2016. DSD, with four finishing in the top thirteen, were second and Rathfarnham WSAF AC third, led by master athlete Eoin Flynn in ninth place. Crusaders AC finished just two points clear of Liffey Valley for fourth place, with Raheny Shamrock sixth and Donore Harriers seventh. 

Winning the senior women’s race, also over the 7.5km distance, was Elizabeth Gahan (Dublin City Harriers) in 26 mins 45 secs. Catherina McGurn (Metro St Brigid’s AC) was second in 27:05 and Orla Duffy (DCH ) third in 27:09. With four in the top eight, DCH successfully defended their team title. DSD AC, led by Dublin novice cross-country champion, Roisin Treacy in fourth place, were second and Rathfarnham WSAF AC third, led by Edel McCreery in 12th place. Liffey Valley was fourth. Only four teams finished.

In the junior races, held over 4,5km, Megan Brunt (Blackrock AC) was a clear winner of the women’st title, pulling away on the final lap to finish rse in 15 mins 55 secs, Iona Murnane (Dundrum South Dublin) was second in 16:38 and Cara Mohan (Metro St Brigid’s AC) third in 16:44. With Isabel O’Reilly third U19 and Eva Kelly sixth, Blackrock AC took the U19 team award. DSD AC was second and Clonliffe Harriers third. Winning the U20 category was DSD AC, followed by Blackrock AC and last year’s champions, Lucan Harriers.

In the men’s junior race, Conrad Latham (Raheny ShamrockAC, fourth last year, took the top place this time in a time of 13:45. Harry Moran of Donore Harriers was second in 13:30 and his Donore club mate Charlie O’Neill third 13:53. Donore Harriers finished best of the U20 teams ahead of Raheny Shamrock and DSD. In the U19 team category, Raheny Shamrock were the winners with DSD second and Clonliffe Harriers third.

More photos from today's Dublin Cross Country Championships are at Lindie Flickr site at https://www.flickr.com/photos/lindie/

• Remembered fondly by many at Abbotstown was the late Ciara Mageean, whose death was announced earlier on the day. A great athlete and more importantly, a great human being gone far too soon. May she rest in peace.