Young Galway stars shine on Finals day

Young athletes from Galway took home a total of 37 individual and team medals at the first national finals day of the Community Games, which were held at Abbotstown in Dublin on Saturday.

A total of 10 Galway teams made it through the provincial qualifiers to represent Connacht at the Finals Day, and they were joined by the Galway Table Quiz and Cross Country teams, as well as a number of individual competitors in swimming, judo, gymnastics, and athletics.

In all, Galway athletes and teams won 10 gold, 10 silver, 12 bronze, and five pewter medals across a range of sports, including athletics, basketball, chess, gymnastics, judo, rugby, table quiz, and spikeball.

Pride of place went to the Galway’s judo representatives, who took home a total of 15 individual medals, broken down as five gold, five silver, and five bronze.

In Girls’ Judo, there were gold medals for Emma Clayden Murphy (Abbeyknockmoy-Monivea-Kilkerrin) in 30kg; for Robin Deegan (Salthill / Claddagh) in 35kg; Leah Deegan (Salthill / Claddagh) in 45kg; and Alanna Doyle (Athenry) in 55kg.

Ella James (Athenry) took silver in 25kg, as did Lauren McDonagh (Salthill/Claddagh) in the Open event; while there were bronze medals for Lily Mae Turley (Abbeyknockmoy-Monivea-Kilkerrin) in 40kg and Ailbhe Greaney (Salthill / Claddagh) in 50kg.

There were seven medals for Galway in the Boys’ Judo, with Oscar Predka (Ardaun / Roscam / Doughiska) taking gold in 30kg. Silver medals went to Dylan McGrath (Annaghdown) in 35kg, Conor Murray (Annaghdown) in 35kg, and Adam McDonagh (Salthill/Claddagh) in 55kg; while there were bronze medals for Pearse Maguire (Annaghdown) in 25kg, Shane Williams (Athenry) in 45kg, and Eryk Wyskocki (Galway City East) in the Open section. There was also a strong performance from Brendan Rhatigan (Knocknacarra) in the Boys’ 50kg.

Swimming

Galway swimmers won three gold, three bronze and two pewter medals in the pool. Ralf Bodamer (Athenry) took gold in the U-14 Boys’ 50m freestyle; Fionn Waters (Dunmore-Garrafrauns-Kiltevna) won gold in the U-16 Boys’ 50m backstroke; and there was also gold for Ruth Dolan (Ballinasloe) in the U-14 Girls’ 50m breaststroke.

Bronze medals went to Uiseann Cooke (Caherlistrane-Kilcoonagh) in the U-16 Boys’ 50m butterfly; to Evan McKeon (Ballinasloe) in the U-10 Boys’ 25m freestlye; and to Ciara Kilcommins (Newbridge-Ballygar-Toghergar) in the U-14 Girls’ 50m freestyle. Pewter (4th place) medals went to Naoise O’Donnell (Moycullen) in the U-14 Girls’ 50m butterfly; and to Alan Kilcommins (Newbridge-Ballygar-Toghergar) in the U-12 Boys’ 50m breaststroke.

For more results, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.