Mayo AC had a massive team of 32 competitors on the startlines of Sunday's 43rd running of the Dublin Marathon.
They were all ready to race, and enjoy the experience and unique atmosphere of the event, which doubles as the Athletics Ireland National Marathon Championships.
Running conditions were very good.
It was a cool 8°C with a very light breeze as the 8:45 wave swept from Leeson Street Lower through the early miles towards the long drag of Chesterfield Avenue in the Phoenix Park.
Many in the Mayo AC squad were looking to improve previous Dublin finish times, some were running their first Dublin, sixteen of them ran in 2023, and a couple were running their first marathon.
Most of the Mayo AC runners started at 8.45, and the rest followed in subsequent waves.
Three finishers came home under 2:44 – excellent performances by Sean Hynes 2:41.26, John Byrne 2:42.58 and Eamonn Joyce 2:43.44.
Sean produced a well paced run with a negative split that was nearly 30 minutes faster than his 2022 finish time.
John Byrne was happy to be back on the roads he knows so well. It’s six years since he broke the 2:30 barrier in Dublin.
And his experience showed as he ran 1:22.18 to halfway and 1:21.12 in a very strong second half – a brilliant negative split to finish in 2:43.30
The early statistics indicated that Eamonn Joyce – who was coming back to fitness in recent times – was well in contention passing halfway in 1:16.28 and on schedule to improve on his 2:41.48 from Dublin 2022. However, missing a few weeks to get the miles into his legs may have accounted for a tough second half.
These top three finishers will be well up there in the men’s club categories competition.
Three other members crossed the line in under 3hrs.
Tadgh Hanrahan has been in great form all year, and was well up to the pace of his 2:47.29 last year passing halfway in 1:22.18, and finishing with a new 2:45.14 pb.
John Gordon finished in 2:56.12 another great run after his ultramarathon efforts over 22 hours the previous weekend in Fermanagh.
Andrew Hayes produced a great run also on his home terrain with a 3:56.35 finish.
Richie Hanley 3:00.23, and
bionic man Tony O’Malley were just outside the 3 hour mark – great times, particularly Tony following his run in the Berlin Marathon four weeks ago.
17 Mayo AC runners crossed the finish line under 3:30. Among them Neil Carroll, Matthew Gill and Tom Reilly, Wesley Hurst, John Brennan, Andy Neary a pb?, Damien Finnegan pb, and Art Maguire.
Colette Tuohy in her first year a new W55 category, ran her fourth marathon and was first of the 10 Mayo AC women finishers as she has been in the last four editions.
It was another great run by Colette showing her trademark tremendous grit and courage over the final miles to finish in 3:09.58, three minutes faster than 2023 and gold in W55 category. Congratulations Colette!
The second Mayo AC woman was Paula Donnellan who got home in 3:30.00 after a strong second half - probably her best Dublin marathon finish time.
She was closely followed by Dee Finnegan 3:30.59 improving her 2023 time by almost five minutes in an excellent new pb.
Colette, Paula and Dee will be well in contention in the women’s o35 category if Athletics Ireland combine their times in the competition.
Tony Hegarty M55 had a great run to finish with a new 3:31.36 pb.
Well done to all the other Mayo AC finishers: new members Michelle McAlpine (a PB by a minute 3:47!) and Helen Masterson and Regina Kiernan in their first marathons.
There were many brilliant performances on the day- all 32 finishers are winners in this tough endurance test.
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Huge thanks go to the wonderful Dublin Marathon supporters: their enthusiasm and encouragement inspired Mayo AC all the way along the 26.2.
it was great to see Aoife Kilgallon Sligo AC win silver in National Marathon Championships in 2:36. It was her second marathon having run 2:58 in 2019. And well done to two other Connacht athletes Michelle Needham W45 Westport AC 3:17, Mattie Coleman Ballina AC 6th M65 3:28.37.
Provisional Athletics Ireland results of the National Marathon will be published in due course.
Mayo AC finishers: (all times unofficial)
Sean Hynes 2:41.26 pb
John Byrne 2:42.58
Eamonn Joyce 2:43.44
Tadgh Hanrahan 2:45.14 pb
John Gordon 2:56.12
Andrew Hayes 2:56.35
Richie Hanley 3:00.23
Tony O’Malley 3:00.31
Neil Carroll 3:04.15
Matthew Gill 3:07.54
Tom Reilly 3:07.59
Colette Tuohy 3:09.58
Wesley Hurst 3:18.53
John Brennan 3:22.12
Andy Neary 3:24.25
Damien Finnegan 3:25.27
Art Maguire 3:27.33
Paula Donnellan 3:30.00pb
Dee Finnegan 3:30.59
Tony Hegarty 3:31.36
Stephen Skillington 3:34.40
Helen Hopkins 3:35.16
Tom O’Brien 3:41.18
Brian Morley 3:45.47
Michelle McAlpine 3:47.41 pb
Damien Glackin 3:57.01
Gillian Hanrahan 3:57.26
John Nyland 3:57.26
Noelle Kilduff 4:07.54
Helen Masterson 4:08.48
Colette McTigue 4:54.21
Regina Kiernan 5:41.43
