TERESA Duffy defied the bitter cold to claim a brilliant victory in the Dublin Marathon yesterday.
The Turf Lodge, Belfast star, who had set a target time of 2 hours 42 minutes in her inaugural attempt at the classic distance, bettered that by over two minutes when coming home in 2.39.56 – a fine effort in the conditions.
The Beechmount runner produced a decisive surge at 15 miles to break the resolve of last year’s winner Malta’s Carol Galea in the 98FM sponsored race.
A number of race watchers feared the 29-year-old might have made her bid for victory a bit early but Duffy said afterwards that she felt compelled to pick up what she deemed a sluggish pace.
“I felt strong all the way up until about three miles to go when my legs started to seize up a bit but thankfully the finishing line came early enough for me.”
Appearances were obviously deceptive because Duffy appeared full of running at the finish with one observer reckoning her the freshest looking women’s winner in the 19 years of the event.
Coach Norman Brook was at the finish to greet his victorious athlete who had built up her mileage to around a peak of 95 per week in preparation for the Dublin race.
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DERRY’S new management team face a tough baptism this winter with several of the county’s Ulster Championship winning side unavailable for the three National League games before Christmas.
Eamonn Burns is recovering from a recent hernia operation while Enda Muldoon, one of the real success stories for the Oak Leafers this summer, sustained a serious knee injury in a club game a fortnight ago and is also out.
Henry Downey has still not recovered from the groin injury picked up before Derry’s All-Ireland semi-final match with Galway, while Sean Martin Lockhart hurt his knee in last Sunday’s International Rules triumph over the Australians.
He is also unlikely to play any part in the games against Mayo (away), Kildare (home) and Clare (away).
There are also injuries to Dermot Heaney (back) and Fergal McCusker.
Add the six Bellaghy players unavailable for the trip to Mayo because of club commitments, and Adrian McGuckin and Eamon Coleman have a real selection headache.
Joe Cassidy, David O’Neill, Paul Diamond, Paddy Downey, Cathal Scullion and Ciaran McNally are all due to play for the Wolfe Tones in the AIB Ulster Club Championship semi-final against Enniskillen on Sunday week.
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CLIFTONVILLE boss Marty Quinn, hoping to recover from Saturday’s 4-1 Solitude shellacking by Newry, must do without the services of suspended duo Mickey Donnelly and Keith Mulvenna.
Stephen Small is likely to come in for Mulvenna, seizing his chance to stake a claim for the right-back slot he once thought of as his own.
It’s a family affair in the fight to replace the influential Donnelly, who will benefit from the rest as he has been troubled by a foot injury.
Brothers Chris and Ronan Scannell have been doing well in the champions’ Olympic side, especially striker Chris, though Ronan’s versatility as a defender or a midfielder could give him the nod.
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