Two more medals for Ireland at European U23 Championships in Norway
On the final day of competition in Bergen, 10000m champion Thompson climbed the podium again after finishing third in the 5000m and Maher medalled in the 1500m.
Maher clocked 4:09.54 as she delivered a tactical masterclass and ran the race of her life in her first track championship for Ireland.
'I'm lost for words right now, I'm still processing it all,' the 24-year-old said said.
Advertisement
'I was vomiting before the heats, I was so nervous, this was my first track champs. . . I worked for this, I wanted this, and I think I tried to enjoy it a lot more today, but it was easier because I had done it before. I'm absolutely delighted.'
Turkey's Dilek Kocak won in 4:08.79, while Adele Gay of France took silver.
Thompson, who became just the second ever Irish athlete to top the podium at the European U23 championships with 10000m glory on Friday, added to her medal haul in the 5000m. She ran 15:56.80, having hit the front early and led until 800m to go.
'I'm really quite tired, but I'm actually really happy,' said Thompson. 'I love having a race where I can give it my all and that was one of the hardest ones I have run, and I just love to leave it out there on the track.
'It's the joy I have of the sport of running, whether I win or lose, the greatest thing is that I'm healthy and I get to do this, I have a big smile on my face.
'My goal today was of course to get the double gold, but If I go for gold and I might end up with a bronze, so always go for the win and see where you end up after that.'
Meanwhile, the men's 4x400m squad of Andrew Egan, Callum Baird, Joe Doody and David Mannion clocked a new national U23 record of 3:06.31 as they finished fifth.
The women's 4x400m squad broke the national U23 record, clocking 3:34.81, and the men's 4x100m squad went close to doing similar in 39.83. Major championships debutant Anna Gavigan placed eighth in the discus with a best throw of 51.16m.
Athletics Ireland heralded this as the most successful U23 European championship ever with five medals won, along with a 14th-place finish on the medal table. Nicola Tuthill (hammer throw silver) and Nick Griggs (5000m silver) were the other Irish medallists.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
23 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Athlone turn on the style in Europe to hammer Cardiff
Athlone Town produced a famous European performance as they eased to a 4-0 victory over Cardiff City in their UEFA Women's Champions League first qualifying round tie at Lissywollen. In front of a sold-out crowd, Colin Fortune's side dominated Cardiff from start to finish and were full value for a win that sets them up for a first qualifying round final against Croatian side Agram at the same venue on Saturday. With Athlone midway through their domestic campaign and Cardiff still in the early stages of their pre-season, hopes were high that the host's superior match fitness and conditioning would tell and so it proved. Cardiff struggled to get out of their own half throughout the game and had already survived several scares when Izzy Groves opened the scoring with 14 minutes on the clock. While Groves provided the finishing touch, the opening goal was all about the creativity and power of Roisin Molloy who went on a surging run down the right before dribbling around two Cardiff defenders and cutting the ball back to Groves on the edge of the box. Groves watched the ball come across her before hitting a delicate lob which floated over the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Ceryn Chamberlain and into the net. Molloy was already causing all kinds of problems for Cardiff, who couldn't get to grips with her pace. Four minutes after providing the assist for the opener, she was at it again, sending in a perfectly weighted cross for Kelly Brady to attack, but the US-born striker couldn't keep her header down. The Cardiff defence were unable to contain Molloy who created further chances for Brady and Sarah Rice before taking matters into her own hands just before half-time. With 40 minutes on the clock Molloy was in the right place at the right time as she met a cross from Madie Gibson in front of the Cardiff goal, calmly controlling the ball with her knee and then poking her shot home underneath the dive of Cardiff goalkeeper Chamberlain. There was even more to come from the Sligo native three minutes later when she added Athlone's third of the evening, and all but ended the game as a contest before half-time. A searching delivery from Shauna Brennan left Chamberlain in a mess as she came for the cross without getting near it and Molloy was on hand to nod the ball into the bottom left corner. If Cardiff had any hope that the hosts might take their foot off the gas in the second-half, that was soon dispelled as Athlone added their fourth on 49 minutes. Molloy was again involved, taking a corner and dropping a teasing cross into the centre where it was met by the head of Natalie McNally who powered her header against the woodwork. The rebound dropped to Hannah Waesch who steadied herself before picking her spot and firing home. Athlone had further chances to add to their tally with Brady and substitute Hazel Donegan both going close, but with the quick turn around between this game and Saturday's final, intensity levels understandably dropped. Even still, Cardiff struggled to maintain any kind of meaningful possession and Megan Plaschko is unlikely to have many quieter evenings in goal for The Town.
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Champions League debutants Athlone Town slay Cardiff City
Women's Champions League, first round ATHLONE TOWN 4 (Izzy Groves 15, Róisín Molloy 40, 43, Hannah Waesch 49) CARDIFF CITY 0 Wales got the better of Ireland for a Euros spot but there was a sinew of revenge on the club front by Athlone Town dumping Cardiff City out of the Champions League. This was the first time in 42 years for Athlone Town to sample the European stage – the first time for the women's team – and they made their mark with an emphatic first-half blitz to slay the Welsh dragons. Athlone's women's team has always carried a transatlantic influence, with four in the starting team from USA and Canada, but Róisín Molloy from Gurteen in Sligo was the star that shone brightest. A marauding presence from the right flank, she teed up captain Izzy Groves to fire home a 15th minute breakthrough before swelling the lead with a brace within three minutes approaching the break. Hannah Waesch slotted in from close-range within four minutes of the restart to complete the rout, allowing manager Colin Fortune to rest players with Saturday's second round tie against Croatian side ZNK Agram in mind. Shannon Evans of Cardiff City tries to keep a shot from Roisin Molloy from crossing the line. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Former Ireland manager Vera Pauw criticised Uefa for recalibrating Uefa's sole women's competition in favour of the larger powerbrokers, suppressing any slim prospect of an outlier emerging from the shadows to cause a shock. Restructuring changed the old 16-team group stage that kicked off the competition into an 18-club league phase. That entails three rounds of qualifying – beginning with this Celtic derby in the first round of the Champions Path. It means a quick turnaround for Athlone but at least to do again have home advantage. That worked a treat on this occasion, for the sold-out sign was raised four hours before kick-off, leading to queues around a Lissywollen Stadium that struggles to attract 400 for the men's team. As it transpired, an historic number of 1,916 was declared for a crowd that did include Ireland assistant manager Alan Mahon. At 23, Molloy is someone the international management could be minded to consider with the Uefa Nations League playoff against Belgium approaching in October. ATHLONE TOWN: M Plaschko; K Brennan (I Ryan 85), S Brennan, N McNally, K Shine; H Waesch, I Groves (K Slevin 70); R Molloy (A Murphy 82), S Rice, M Gibson; K Brady (H Donegan 70). CARDIFF CITY: C Chamberlain: L Owen, F Price, H Evans, N Jenkins; F Barry, K Walklett, L Billingham, M Cook; H Evans, L Curnock. Referee: Karoline Marie Jensen (NOR)
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Doherty and de la Macorra triumph in Ballinasloe
Galgorm Castle golfer Adam Doherty claimed the Irish U16 Boys' Amateur Open Championship after a thrilling victory in Ballinasloe. The 15-year-old went into the third round trailing fellow Ulster teenager and reigning champion, Eoin Burrows, by a single shot. But he rallied and a closing 73 helped him to secure the win on -4, just ahead of Ballinasloe native Niall Conneely. The local golfer shot rounds of 70 and 71 on Wednesday to get right back into contention but fell just short. Burrows (Belvoir Park) also finished on -3 in front of Mark Muldoon (Royal Dublin) and Luke Furlong (Wexford) a shot further behind. Doherty was too strong and despite registering two double bogeys during his third round, he bounced back with four birdies and that helped him to his first Irish title. July was a huge month on the golf course for Doherty, he finished fourth in the Ulster U18 Boys' Amateur Open Championship before representing Ireland for the first time in the McGregor Trophy, and he was thrilled to take another step in the right direction. 'Just absolutely delighted, it was tough going down the stretch, managed to keep my game in good shape,' said Doherty. 'It has been the best month of my golfing career. Absolutely loved every minute of it. 'Interpros tomorrow, first round is against Connacht so I'm looking forward to that.' Irish U14 winner Eduardo de la Macorra celebrates with the Cup. Picture: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Corrstown golfer Eduardo de la Macorra won the Irish U14 Boys' Amateur Open Championship after two solid rounds of 72 over the two days. Holywood's Henry Campbell was in the ascendency after Round 1 when he registered a 70 but the Spaniard held his nerve on Wednesday to finish on level par. Scottish golfer Fraser MacKenzie (Inverness) finished two shots in arrears on +2 alongside Sean Nolan (Dun Laoghaire). Campbell was back on +4 with Aodhán Fitzgerald (Galway) and Darragh Dwyer (Ashbourne). De la Macorra had two birdies on his front nine and despite closing with bogeys on 16 and 17, a par on the final hole was enough to seal the win.
