Senior win sees Sean McGinley follow famous footsteps

When the silversmith etches Sean McGinley onto the trophy, he’ll join an elite band of names.

McGinley won the Donegal Senior Cross Country title on Sunday. The Finn Valley AC man pulled clear of Donal Farren, the defending champion, for an impressive win on his senior cross country debut.

The first man to win the trophy was Neilly McDaid, like McGinley a native of Glenswilly, in 1970. Danny McDaid, by then a two-time Olympian, would follow in 1977.

McGinley is cut from the same tough Glenswilly cloth.

“I feel brilliant,” McGinley told Donegal Live after his win. “I’m delighted to come away with the win.

Nakita Burke trusting the plan to gold

Letterkenny AC's Nakita Burke - who has swapped studs for spikes in recent years - won the Donegal Senior Cross Country title on Sunday at Mullaghderg.

“It’s an important title. My first senior title was always going to be special. It’s been brilliant. It means I can look forward to the rest of the season with plenty of confidence now.”

He follows some stellar Finn Valley AC winners onto the roster too. Neil Martin was the first Finn Valley AC winner in ’74 and was present at Mullaghderg on Sunday to cheer McGinley on. Patsy Doherty, the winner in ’76, was likewise, as was Pat Hegarty, who won six-in-a-row from 1985-90.

Martin can still see the key moment from his triumph in Cranford, 49 years after he saw off Neilly McDaid and Paddy Marley for a landmark win.

“There was a ditch about 100 yards out from the finish,” he said. “(Patsy) McGonagle was there and I’ll never forget him just roaring at me: ‘Get to f*** into that ditch first’.”

On Sunday, McGinley stayed patient alongside Farren but, 2k from the finish, he pushed the button.

McGinley has been an athlete of some standing for a while now. Earlier this year, the 20-year-old DCU student wiped out a 37-year-old record at the Irish Universities Championships, winning the 3,000m steeplechase in 8:46.90 - clearing Enda Fitzpatrick’s 8:58.70 from 1986.

Last December, he helped the Ireland Under-20s to a team silver at the European Cross Country Championships in Italy.

Sunday’s victory, to crown him the Donegal champion, was recorded in impressive fashion.

He said: “Donal would make a wee break up a hill, I’d let go a bit down a hill, but none of us made that decisive move. We were maybe waiting on each other to do it.

“Going out over 10k, I didn’t want to do anything stupid early. After 6k, I said I’d sit tight for another kilometre of two. At 8k, my legs felt good. I always let go coming down hill and I put the foot down coming into the last lap. I felt I had more in me and I pushed it on.

“The distance was a big increase for me, but I enjoyed it. I didn’t feel that the first 6k was smooth. I felt a big fatigued almost - maybe it was just the early morning. I didn’t feel like myself until the last 4k, which was brilliant. I thought it would’ve been the opposite. I woke up inside myself in the last two laps and felt more aware and alert.

“I love this course. I know it well from underage. It’s a very tough course. It doesn’t really give you a minute to take it easy. There’s uphill, downhill, narrow parts, rough under foot - you always have to keep alert. I like that because it keeps you focused and tuned in.”

On Sunday, McGinley will go to the line at Abbotstown for the Autumn Open - a race he won 12 months ago. Europe could call again and McGinley has an eye on the national under-23 crown.

He said: “I feel like I’m in good form. This is the first box ticked for the rest now to fall into place.”