MYLES GALLAGHER WAS the MC for the Cranford presentation night for 2015 held at the Beach Hotel in Downngs on Friday.
Certificates were awarded to all the athletes by Rose Gavaghan, Geraldine Boyce, Christopher Murray, Gilbert Neely, Terri McFadden, Shauna Giles and Claire Neely.
Ian McGarvey made the first presentation of the night to Orla Neely for her dedication and her great attendance at training.
Most improved athlete went to Caolan McFadden for his success throughout the year and an award presented to Dylan Dorrian for his track and field and cross country achievements and for winning an individual seventh place medal in the All Ireland B’s in Tuam.
Noel McGinley presented achievement awards to Eoin Kelly for his hard work and dedication at training and his fourth place individual medal at the All Ireland B’s and to Molly Trearty for her great purpose and distinction throughout the year, for winning a Donegal Athletics Achievement Award and for being part of the Donegal u14 girls relay team that won a bronze National medal in Co Down.
Liam Blaney presented achievement awards to Kevin Logue for his continued and consistent hard work in training, his road race, track and cross country achievements, for winning a Donegal Athletics Achievement Award and for being the overall winner of the Bill Hunter Memorial Cup and to Liam Donnelly for being an all round competitor in track and field and cross country and for being part of the under-12 boys Donegal relay team that won silver at the National cross country relay championships in Rostrevor.
Noel McBride presented an award to Max Roarty for being an all round competitor in track and field, part of the duo that won an under-11 national bronze medal in the 600m in Tullamore, and a member of the under-11 boys Donegal team that won a bronze National medal for cross country in Waterford and to Cian McMenamim for being a gritty competitor in track and field and cross country and for being part of the duo that won an under-11 bronze National medal in the 600m in Tullamore.
Paddy Marley presented the Juvenile Girl athlete of the year award to Aoife Giles, one of Cranford’s top attenders at training and for winning medals at county, provisional and national events throughout 2015. Aoife won a gold national medal at the under-12 shot put indoors in Athlone and at the track and field championships in Tullamore another gold national under-12 shot put medal.
He also presented the Juvenile boy athlete of the year to Oisin Kelly. Oisin is a determined and enthusiastic young athlete in track and field and cross country.
In 2015 he won a Donegal Athletics Achievement Award, the John Carlin Award for best performance at the 2015 schools championship, an Ulster all star, was part of the under-12 boys county relay team that won a silver National medal, a National indoor 600m gold medal, at the track and field championships.
He came fourth in the long jump then went on to win the under-12 600m race earning another National medal, at the National Cross country championships in Santry an under-12 Ulster team gold medal, at the National Cross country championships in Waterford he was part of the under-13 gold County and Ulster medal winning team and so is a well deserved recipient of the juvenile boy athlete of the year.
The next award went to an unassuming individual who has won numerous County, Ulster and National medals throughout her running career, she was part of the County team that won a medal at the cross country championships held in Carndonagh recently and the winner of the masters race and second lady overall at the Winifred Gallagher Memorial race so best female masters athlete went to Bridie Trearty.
Club volunteers give their time freely and are always present at training and competitions, they help advance the aims of the club and keep everyone fully up to date with exploits of our athletes by maintaining the Cranford website and Facebook page so this years Joint Club Person of the Year went to PROs Claire Neely and Sally Trearty.
Joe Boyce presented an award to Myles Gallagher, Master of ceremony supreme, who was a former member of the Cranford Senior team for many years. Cranford AC are honoured that he still associates himself with the club and still offers his support every year.
Eamon Giles presented awards to our two special guests, former Cranford athletes, Hugo Duggan and Paddy Marley.
Ernie McElhinney and Joe Boyce presented gifts to Noel McGinley, Liam Blaney, Noel McBride, Ian McGarvey, Darragh McClafferty, Rose Gavaghan, Geraldine Boyce, Shauna Giles, Terri McFadden, Gilbert Neely, Claire Neely, Francis Diver and Myles Gallagher.
Eamon Giles thanked Myles Gallagher for a great job tonight, Geraldine Boyce for all her hard work, Paddy Marley and Hugo Duggan for coming. He thanked Francis Diver for taking the photos and thanked all the councillors, the Beach Hotel for their continued support and to Frank Casey for the use of the track in Downings for which we are all so grateful.
He concluded by saying he is very proud to have two double national medal winners from such a small area. He commended the parents for taking the young athletes to training three times a week, thanked his Coaches and said how lucky he was to have such dedicated and loyal helpers. Wishing everyone good luck for National B’s and Masters on Sunday and thanked everyone for coming he brought the evening to a close.
The athletes then made a presentation to the coaches Rose Gavaghan, Joe Boyce, Ernie McElhinney, Bridie Trearty and Eamon Giles to thank them for all their hard work and dedication to the Club throughout the year.
Please see the gallery below …
