National senior titles for both Breathnach and Lally

It was a phenomenally successful weekend for Galway athletes at the National Track and Field Indoor Championships, which were held in the National Indoor Arena in Dublin at the weekend, with national titles for both Sean Breathnach and Alanna Lally.

Breathnach of Galway City Harriers gets better with age, and on Sunday he took yet another national shot putt title, and in the process set a new national indoor shot putt record of 18.30m, to win gold after an enthralling competition.

Breathnach had a great battle with the up-and-coming John Kelly of Finn Valley AC, who led early on with a best throw of 17.53m, which ultimately gave him second to a champion performance from the Connemara man.

Lally, now with UCD AC, won her first national senior title in the women’s 800m, where she dominated from the gun, to take gold in 2mins 8.71secs.

Jerry Keary of Craughwell AC also took his first national senior medal claiming silver in the Men’s high jump with a 1.90m leap.

Other notable Galway performances over the weekend came from Veronica Burke of Ballinasloe & District AC, who placed fourth in the Ladies 3k Walk, and Sinead Gaffney of Craughwell AC who made the 800m final, placing eighth and running a club record 2.19 in the process.

GCH’s multi-eventer Michael Breathnach competed in five events, with a best finish of fourth in the shot putt, behind brother Sean; while Brendan Staunton of GCH was seventh overall in the shot final. NUIG athlete Damien Landers placed fifth in the Men’s 1500m, competing for Ennis Track AC.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.