2014 was a great year for DDAC. Why not join us for 2015. Tuesday 8pm, Thursday 7pm and Saturday 9am at the Lourdes Stadium. The end of the year marks a period of reflection of the times gone and like many 2014 has brought ups and downs. The only difference in athletics is that we are always hoping for the downs. Happy is athlete who is running downhill and watching their times come down. Mark OShea had an astounding year winning the Leinster Senior Athlete of the Year. Marks performances at the Leinster Senior Championships 2014 were spectacular as he competed alongside the best in the province. This prestigious award is the first time a DDAC athlete has received it. Mark set a massive mile stone in June at the Irish Miler graded meet when he broke the two minute barrier-1.58.86. The red vests are always keen to go on tour and Budapest is as good a stop as any. Four athletes travelled to represent the club and country at the Indoor Master Track and Fields in the Hungarian capital. Mark OShea, and Niall Donnelly went head to head with 8 other Irish athletes to compete for two spaces to represent the country. Athletics ability runs in the Maher family as Robbie and Michael Maher both ran season bests in the 1500metres. Track, road or cross country Mary Leechs athletics ability knows no limit. 2014 was a year of the silverware for Mary as she won the national indoors 1500metres in January and also won the Louth Masters Cross Country. In the Louth Senior Cross Country Mary took home a silver medal and also silver in the outdoors 1500metres. A year of fine performances resulted in Mary receiving the Louth loo County Master Athlete of the year in November. 2014 was a year of hard training and triumph for Orla OConnor who put the spikes to good use on the track. In August whilst the shops were full of back to school books Orla was in peak condition as she ran a PB in Santry stadium. Orlas first year in the club was littered with success and her credit she topped it off running 400metres in 60.04 seconds and 2.16.5 for the 800metres. Connor Cooney had a great season on the track and icing on the cake was breaking 2minutes for 800metres finishing 1.59.46. At provincial level the club grew from strength to strength in 2014. At the Leinster Championship Indoor Championship Declan Halton won a silver medal for the 1500metres. The ladies not to be outrun had a tremendous season also. Winter miles and summer smiles for Pamela Howard and Mary Leech who both broke 5minutes for 1500 metres. Yasmin Canning took home a gold medal for 400metres and bronze for the 800metres. Deirdre McFerran received gold medals for 200 and 400metres in Athlone. Karl Carlton and Michelle Linkevivius both received two gold medals in the Louth Championships in July for the 100 and 200metres. DDAC were no strangers to podium for the road races and Pamela Howard stood proudly in Bohermeen after winning the 10km in March. In the Leinster 3km road novice in Kilkenny Pamela was second lady home. In April the streets of Raheny were busting with athletic red vest talent for the AAI National Road Relays. The ladies team Mary McDonnell, Nuala Reilly and Deidre McFerran finished second on the day. A united effort from Danny Skeffington, Paul McQuillan and Patrick OGrady resulted in a team placement also. April shower brings May flowers and medals making it a fruitful month for the club. Competing at provincial level is a huge achievement and Pamela Howard, Mary Leech, Orla OConnor and Yasmin Canning made up the winning team in the Leinster Novice Road Championships. Celebrations were vast as it was the first time the club has won a team event at provincial level. Cross Country is neither for faint hearted or those who prefer their runners mud free. At the Leinster Master Cross Country in Avondale House Wicklow the ladies team were placed second made up of Mary Leech, Yasmin Canning and Ciara OReilly. Oldbridge was the location for the Ras Na hEireann race Paddy Moore, Stephen Duggan, Paul Smith and Patrick OGrady saw DDAC claim a gold for the male team.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 12:39:27 +0000
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