Terry Shanley shines at Dublin City Marathon
Michelle McCabe during the Dublin City Marathon.
Another Dublin City Marathon has come and gone. Wet, wild and downright miserable conditions masked the skies as the runners trudged through the streets of Dublin, mirages of the finishing line appearing from the 18th mile onwards.
Some swore they would never do it again. Others elated didn’t even want to think about it – intent on enjoying the post celebrations in earnest. A week has elapsed and already pains and aches, inclement weather conditions and pre-marathon anxiety have already been forgotten. For many, plans are underway to sign up for another one next year.
After all, the Dublin City Marathon is not just about the race, it’s about the people – those you meet on the way and those that line the streets soaked with heartfelt enthusiasm.
This year, the men’s elite race was won by Daniel Mesfin of USA in a personal best time of 2:08.51 with Ethiopia’s Eebbissee Aduunya crossing the line in 2:26.28 winning the women’s race in her debut marathon. 19-year-old Ava Crean of Limerick won the women's national title in 2:34.12 while Waterford AC’s David McGlynn took the men's title with a 2.11.01 – both personal best times. A record breaking 18,486 runners completed the course.
Scattered amongst the 18,486 finishers were almost 120 participants from Kildare clubs. Six clubs were represented: St Coca’s, Clane, Newbridge, Celbridge, Naas and Le Cheile.
The best overall performance from the county came from Terry Shanley (Clane AC) who finished 37th overall and 7th in the over 35 category. Shanley recorded an excellent time of 2:29.39. The top female finisher was Sinead O’Rielly (St Coca’s). O’Rielly dipped under the three hour mark with a finishing time of 2:59:13.
St Coca’s AC travel in large numbers to the annual Dublin City Marathon. This year, 32 members of the club boarded the early morning club bus, ready to take on the 26.2 mile course.
With ace photographer Dermot Kelly at the helm, their journey was well documented and one for the memory books. First athlete home for the club was Shane McNerney in a time of 2:35:31.
It was Sinead O'Reilly that was the first lady across the line with a magnificent sub three-hour time of 2:59:13. Personal bests were achieved by the following runners; Tommy Walsh, John Barlow, Derek McArdle and Alice Casey.
The number of club teams competing in this year’s national marathon has been phenomenal. St Coca’s had teams in the senior ladies, the over 35 and over 50 ladies. The over 35’s finished 12th out of a staggering 112 teams completing the marathon. The senior men’s team finished 25th out of 144 teams entered.
In 2022 many awoke on a sleepy Sunday morning to news that Celbridge’s Martin Hoare had won the National Marathon. It was a momentous occasion for both Celbridge AC and Kildare.
While Hoare was not in Dublin this year, there were however in excess of thirty of his club members participating – all no doubt still inspired by that 2022 performance.
The top Celbridge performer was Tom O’Leary who crossed the finishing line in 2:47.40, the clubs sole runner under three hours. Just outside the three hour mark with a time of 3:03.22 was Derek Gilmartin. Four minutes behind Gilmartin was Paul Caldwell in 3:07.53. The first Celbridge lady across the line was Claire Millar in 3:41.19.
26 Naas AC members were amongst the 18,486 participants in this year’s Dublin marathon. Race ready and fit as they possibly could be, the contingent set out on the course with only one goal in mind – to finish.
The group were led across the finishing line by Aaron Renegan with an excellent time of 2:38.46. Renegan was followed by Stephen McGibney (2:46.31) and Rob O’Brien (2:50.54). This trio made up the senior men’s team that finish 22 out of 144 teams, in the senior men’s category. The first female finisher for Naas was Gwen Hughes with a time of 3:36.53.
15 Clane AC members completed the 26.2 mile course with Terry Shanley the first Clane AC man across the line with a time of 2:29.39. Additionally, Shanley was the fastest Kildare finisher. The Clane AC athlete placed 37th overall and 7th over 35. His position over 35 improved to 5th in the national marathon.
Behind Shanley, Gavin Kelly clocked 2:41.19 with Stephen and Brian Conroy sneaking under the three hour mark with 2:59.00 and 2:59.11 respectively. The club placed 12th out of 159 teams in the over 35 club category.
Eadaoin McCourt was the first Clane lady to finish. McCourt recorded a very respectable time of 3:17.29.almost five minutes ahead of clubmate Suzie O’Neill. These two ladies along with Valarie Duffay combined well to finish 19th out of 93 teams in the senior ladies team section.
22 Le Cheile AC members were amongst the large Kildare contingent taking part in Dublin this year. The top performance came from a female: Patricia McLoughlin who put in a gallant effort to record 3:02.32.
McLoughlin famous for her ultra distance running made light of the 26.2 mile effort, paltry in terms of the ultra-distances of 100k that she has so often participated in. Cathal Brennan recorded the fasted male time with 3:04.37.
Newbridge AC had twenty-one members complete this year’s Dublin City Marathon, with five members dipping under the three hour mark. Top performer was Thomas Kelly with 2:40.14. Kelly was followed by Rob McCabe in 2:45.48 with Keith Browne third home in 2:53.01.
The trio completed the Newbridge team who were 19th out of 159 teams in the over 35 category. The first Newbridge lady across the finishing line was Michelle Guiney in a time of 3:26.53. Erica Hargaden was next in 3:31.19.
Alexander Wallace (St Coca’s) despite his excellent record in the Dublin City Marathon, skipped the event this year. With good reason too. Wallace flew across the Atlantic to take part in his fifth marathon major – the illustrious New York City Marathon. Wallace recorded a time of 2: 41.22. Wallace has already competed in London, Chicago, Berlin and Boston. The only major that currently eludes him is Tokyo.
Benson Kipruto (Kenya) won this year’s men’s race with a time of 2:08:09. It was another Kenyan Hellen Obiri in a new course record of 2:19:51.
