Dublin Clubs Roundup, 11 - 16 Feb. 2026

NEW MARATHON BEST FOR O’DONNELL

 Paul O’Donnell (Dundrum South Dublin AC) clocked a superb personal best time of 2 hours 9 mins 19 secs for 18th place at the Seville Marathon on Sunday (February 15). That time not only knocked almost a minute off O’Donnell’s previous best of 2:10.17 set last March in the USA, but elevates him to second on the all-time Irish list behind Fearghal Curtin who ran 2:07.45 last October in South Korea. The time is also inside the A qualification of 2:09.30 for the European Championships later this year in Birmingham.

ROONEY THE MASTER

Colm Rooney (Clonliffe Harriers) successfully defended his national masters title in some style at the National Masters Cross-Country Championships held at Abbotstown on Sunday (February 15). Rooney streaked into an early lead and, by the finish, had lapped some of the field not once but twice. His winning time of 21 mins 20 secs put him 46 seconds clear of the chasers led by Conan McCaughey (North Belfast Harriers) who finished in 22:06. With four finishers in the top fifteen, North Belfast Harriers were the team winners, with Clonliffe the runners-up. In a strong turn-out from Dublin clubs, Liffey Valley finished fourth, Raheny Shamrock fifth, Donore Harriers eighth, Dundrum South Dublin ninth, Dublin Front Runners tenth, Sportsworld eleventh, Portmarnock twelfth and Civil Service AC thirteenth. In the M50 class, Donore Harriers (Bernard Geraghty, Des Tremble, Emmet Ó Briain and Sean Fox) finished second of the M50 teams, while in the M65 category, Rathfarnham WSAF AC’s trio of Gerry Doyle, Martin Kelly and Brendan Hogan finished second. Tallaght AC was fifth, Clonliffe Harriers sixth, and Liffey Valley eighth.

In the age groups Ruben Bartelink (DSD AC) was first M50, with Bernard Geraghty (Donore Harriers) third and Vincent O’Neill (Civil Service Harriers) second M70. Dublin won both the M35 and M50 county team titles. Winning the women’s W35 team title by a single point was Sportsworld led by Lisa Madden in fourth place. Liffey Valley was fifth, Civil Service Harriers sixth and Dublin Front Runners seventh. Dublin were clear winners of the W35 county title. Unlucky to miss out in the W50 category was Raheny Shamrock AC whose team, led by W55 champion Annette Kealy finished fourth. Dublin’s other individual winner was Eileen O’Brien (Lucan Harriers) in the W75 category. 

Also taking place were the intermediate championships and winning the women’s race in 17:06 was Fiona Hawkins (Dublin City Harriers). A fighting second in 17:18 was Hope Saunders (Clonliffe Harriers) who is making a welcome comeback after a long break from athletics. Dublin City Harriers was the winning team with Hawkins backed up by Eavan McLoughlin, Karen Hayes and Aine O’Connor. Clonliffe Harriers finished third, Liffey Valley fourth , Sportsworld fifth, Donore Harriers sixth and Raheny Shamrock seventh. In the men’s inter race, Mahad Mohammed Egaal (Clonliffe Harriers finished second with Clonliffe second in the team category and Donore Harriers third. Sportsworld finished sixth and Liffey Valley seventh.

INDOORS - HOME 

Clonliffe Harriers and Dundrum South Dublin made it a Dublin club double at the National Indorrs League final held at the NIA, Abbotstown on Saturday (February 14). In fhe men’s competition, Clonliffe, were winning their nineth win in the competition since it was first held in 2014. Only two others clubs have ever come ouut on top — Leevale in 2014 and 2022 and Tallaght in 2016. Clonliffe was captained by Sean Carrigg, had a win in the 60m for Craig Duffy and well as victories for Marcus Lawler 200m, Greg Hossenny 3000m walk, Eoin Sheridan shot and Niall Allen weight for distance. Dundrum South Dublin third with maximum points for Andrew Hayes in the 400m and for the 4x400m relay. Raheny Shamrock finished seventh and Donore Harriers eighth. For DSD, captained by Rachel Dunne, it was a third victory since 2023, thanks to wins for Mollie O’Reilly 60m, Holly Carroll 1500m, Ella Fennelly 3000m, Ciara Wilson Bowen walk and the 4x400m relay, and second places fro Evelyn Kwik 400m and Molly Mullally triple jump. Of the other Dublin clubs, Metro St Brigid’s AC finished fifth and Clonliffe Harriers seventh. More pictures are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/lindie/albums/72177720332013637/

At the Track and Field Live meet No 5, NIA, Abbotstown on Wednesady (February 11) Louie Woodger (Metro Sr Brigid’s C) ran a personal best 4:06.95 for second place in the mile. Winning her 800m heat in 2:08.03 was Saoirse Fitzgerald (Lucan Harriers) . The final Track and Field Live meet of the seaons takes place on Wednesday March 4 at the NIA. 

INDOORS - AWAY 

 Bori Akinola (UCD AC) shaved three-hundredths of a second off the current Irish record when clocking 6.54 secs for second place in the men’s 60m at the Belgrade Indoor Meet in Serbia on Wednesday (February 11). Akinola’s previous best time of 6.59 set in Glasgow last month was inside the qualifying time for the World Indoor Championships in Poland next month. Also on Wednesday, Orla Comerford (Raheny Shamock was in Loranrno, where she ran a personal best for 60m of 7.52 secs. 

At the Valentine Meet in Boston held over the weekend, Abdel Laadjel (Donore Harriers) ran a big personal best of 7:48.74 in the 3000m, Cillian Kirwan (Raheny Shamrock) ran 1:48.58 for 6th in his 800m and Louis O’Loughlin (Donore Harriers) became the latest member of the sub-four minute mile club with a time of 3:59.54 in a mile heat. Sean Cronin (Clonliffe Harriers) clocked 4:03.20.

In Germany at the Erfurt Indoors on Friday, Luke McCann (Dublin City Harriers) ran an 800m indoors personal best of 1:48.13. 

NATIONAL 50KM TITLE FOR WALDRON 

Winning the National 50km title at the annual Donadea 5km in Co Kildare was Wayne Waldron (Donore Harriers) in 2:59.55. Oran Finegan (Clonliffe Harriers) was seventh and second M40 in 3:16.20.