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Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sport
- Sunday World
Ireland's Conor Kelly storms to gold at European U-20 Championships
Kelly set a new personal best in thrilling 400m final run in Finland Conor Kelly produced a remarkable performance to claim gold for Ireland at the European U-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland on Saturday evening, as the 18-year-old dominated the men's 400m final to win in 45.83 seconds. That broke his previous Irish U-20 record of 45.85 and brought him home well clear of France's Milann Klemenic (46.44) and Czechia's Ondrej Loupal (46.62). Kelly is the ninth Irish athlete to have won gold at the European U-20 Championships, which date back to 1970, with Elizabeth Ndudi the most recent winner before him, the Dubliner taking long jump gold in 2023. His time moves him eighth on the Irish all-time list. 'An incredible day at the office,' said Kelly. 'I need a bonus – I'm working overtime here. I just want to enjoy this achievement. It's taken a lot of work and I'm so proud.' Kelly had gone into the championships as the favourite and the Finn Valley athlete, who broke the Irish U-20 record indoors with 46.54, proved a class apart throughout, winning his heat in 46.94 and his semi-final in 46.58. Kelly was born and raised in London to Irish parents – his mother Mary-Jo hailing from Derry while his father, Steve, was born in Lisburn and grew up in Dublin. Last year, he smashed the Irish U-18 400m record to win bronze at the European U-18 Championships in Slovakia and then helped the Irish men's 4x400m team reach a final at the World U-20 Championships in Peru. 'Last year's bronze was great, but it hurt me,' he said. 'There's such a huge amount of work you have to put into this: food, going to bed early. There's so much day-to-day work at 100 per cent. My coaches, dietician, physio and all the people around me – it's a big team. This feels amazing.' Conor Kelly of Finn Valley AC, Donegal. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile News in 90 Seconds - Aug 9th Sean Doggett was also in action in the 400m final, finishing seventh in 47.16, while earlier in the evening, Precious Akpe-Moses – the younger sister of former European U-20 100m champion Gina – finished fourth in the women's 200m final, clocking 23.72 (-2.0m/s). Gold went to Germany's Judith Bilepo Mokobe in 23.40. 'The bend was so good and then I just think after all six races I've done, I might have lost it a bit,' said Akpe-Moses, who finished seventh in the 100m final on Friday. 'But I'm okay with where I came. Fourth in Europe was the best I could do, so I'm content.' Akpe-Moses returned to the track soon after to help Ireland to second place in their heat of the women's 4x100m, clocking 45.27 to automatically advance to Sunday's final alongside Fatima Amusan, Molly Daly and Leila Colfer. Switzerland took victory in 44.63. Cian Crampton had a strong showing in the men's discus final, the Edenderry athlete throwing his leading mark of 57.76m in the final round, which was good enough for sixth, with gold going to Dutch athlete Jarno van Dalen with 63.18m. 'I would have liked a bit more but I can't complain with sixth,' said Crampton. 'I was looking for a medal, but it didn't work out in my favour.' Dubem Amah was 'over the moon' to reach the men's 200m final after clocking 21.30 in his semi-final. The 17-year-old Tallaght sprinter went on to finish seventh in 21.76 into a stiff headwind (-2.9m/s), with gold going to Italy's Diego Nappi in 20.77. Cormac Dixon came home ninth in the 3000m in 8:48.27, while the Irish men's 4x400m team of Alex Cullen, Andrew Hayes, Ethan Dewhirst and David Davitt fell short of the final after clocking 3:12.28 to finish fourth in their heat.
Sunday World
01-08-2025
- Sunday World
Driver caught speeding said he was late for Galway Races and asked to be ‘let off'
When stopped by gardaí, the driver said that he had 'never been in trouble before'. A motorist caught driving dangerously in Co Kildare was speeding over 40kmh over the speed limit. The Naas Roads Policing Unit recently conducted a speed check in a 60kmh zone in Miltown where they caught a driver travelling at a staggering 101kmh while 'dangerously' overtaking on a continuous white line. When stopped by gardaí, the driver claimed he was 'late for the Galway Races', adding that he had 'never been in trouble before'. He proceeded to ask gardaí if he could be 'let off'. Galway Races. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile News in 90 Seconds, Friday August 1 The motorist was issued a Fixed Charge Penalty Notice (FCPN) of €240 and received three penalty points. "Driving like this puts lives at risk,' said a garda spokesperson. 'Excessive speed and dangerous overtaking are a recipe for a serious, even fatal, collision. "Leave the racing to the horses. Stay safe.'
Sunday World
17-05-2025
- Sunday World
Former All-Star hurler has dangerous driving charges dismissed
'Deficiencies' | Former Cork hurling goalkeeper Anthony Nash has had two charges of dangerous driving against him dismissed following alleged incidents on May 30, 2024. Former Cork goalkeeper Anthony Nash. Photo: Matt Browne/Sportsfile Mr Nash, of 21 Barterswood, Tower, Blarney, Co Cork, was charged with two counts of dangerous driving contrary to Section 53 of the Road Traffic Act, in relation to alleged incidents on May 30, 2024. The locations were Townparks, Cahir, and Old Church Street, Townparks, Cahir, Co Tipperary. A witness, Marta Kusowa, told Judge Brian O'Shea that she was driving with her daughter on the day when another driver nearly crashed into her. She turned back and followed him, where he parked up near Cahir Garda Station. Ms Kusowa also parked and went into the station for help. A garda came out as the other car started moving. 'The garda was trying to stop the car, and the car kept driving,' she told Insp Stephen Heffernan. 'I don't know if he did not see the garda.' She said that the garda jumped out, but he was not knocked down by the car. The car was then observed outside a Chinese restaurant, about 15m from the garda station. Ms Kusowa said at one stage, she saw the driver, Mr Nash, standing and taking off his car's registration plates from the front. The registration plates were 'hanging off' the car, and seem to have become dislodged, said David Staunton BL, for Mr Nash. Former Cork goalkeeper Anthony Nash. Photo: Matt Browne/Sportsfile News in 90 Seconds - May 17th As the garda jumped out into the road to stop the car, the car did not stop, said Ms Kusowa. 'He was gesturing to stop.' The Skoda Mr Nash was driving 'nearly hit the garda but it did not,' said Ms Kusowa. The garda's hand hit the wing mirror, she maintained. Garda Gavin Browne gave evidence that, at about 6.10pm, a woman called into the station. She said another driver had nearly caused an accident, and this car was now parked outside the station. Gda Browne said he called out to his colleague, Garda Judy Davern, and the woman pointed to the Skoda Octavia. He saw a male getting back into the car. Gda Browne was going to approach the driver, but then decided to go on to the road. There were other cars coming, but Gda Browne said he allowed four to five vehicles to pass before he stood in the middle of the road 'in full uniform' as the Skoda approached him. 'I put my right hand up indicating him to stop,' he said. He felt that the car was not going to stop, and he shouted about five times to stop. The Skoda driver 'gave me the thumbs up", said Gda Browne. Gda Browne said he jumped out of the way of the oncoming car, 'because the car was going to hit me.' He jumped into a nearby space, as the wing mirror 'hit me'. The Skoda had mounted the kerb. The garda shouted out the registration number to his colleague. As he did so, the car took off in the direction of Cahir town. Gda Browne said he went to radio for assistance. Under questioning, Gda Browne said: 'I was not counting the clock. I cannot say exactly if it was 30 seconds. I was concerned for my safety. I just wanted to get out of the way of the vehicle. 'I am six foot man. I am a large man. Everyone would have seen me because I shouted.' Explaining why he went out into the road, he added: 'I was afraid if I walked up to the vehicle, he would take off. I decided it would be better and safer to go on to the road. The vehicle struck me. I jumped out of the way. My hand would have been out. I put my hand out to protect myself.' In her evidence, Gda Davern said it was 6.10pm when Gda Browne was talking with the woman. 'I could see a grey Skoda pulled in by the gate at the garda station,' she said, adding that she saw a male driver in the car. When Gda Browne went out to stop the car, Gda Davern said that 'he put his hand up to signal the car to stop.' She said it approached and did not stop. The driver put his thumb in the air, and took off at speed into Cahir town. "I ran and took down the reg,' said Gda Davern. Gda Davern traced the number to a business in Cork and spoke to a man named Eamonn Tarrant. She told him the car had been involved in a serious incident. He gave the name of Anthony Nash as being in possession of the vehicle. The vehicle was 'not slowing down' and 'swerved' at a footpath outside the station, added Gda Davern. Sgt Shane O'Neill said it was about 6.30pm when he was informed by Gda Browne that he went out to stop a vehicle at Cahir Garda Station. 'The vehicle had nearly collided with Gda Browne and he had to take evasive measures to avoid being hit by the car,' said Sgt O'Neill. On June 5, six days later, Mr Nash presented himself at a garda station and gave a voluntary statement. Mr Nash made admissions about taking off the licence plate. He said he knew it was damaged and in a panic, he took if off and drove away. 'I should have remained at the scene,' he told the garda, explaining that he has family members in An Garda Síochána and respects the force. He said he suffers from anxiety and had had a relationship break-up at the time. He had been working with his GP and a psychologist on these issues. He was under stress and taking a prescribed medicine, Librium, on the day. 'I did not know it was a garda at all until it was made aware to me,' said Mr Nash in the interview, and apologised. 'It was not my intention. I fully respect the force.' Mr Nash said he didn't recall the garda raising his hand. From Cahir, he drove back to Killarney afterwards. He has no previous convictions. Concluding, Judge O'Shea said that no evidence had been presented that there was dangerous driving 'in a public place'. Two separate alleged incidents were raised and it was not clear 'which is which", he said. 'I think it would be unfair to amend the summons at this stage,' Judge O'Shea told gardaí. There were 'deficiencies', which would not allow an amendment at this stage. The State had not proven that either location was a public place and 'that is essential in a dangerous driving case,' ruled Judge O'Shea. The charges were dismissed.
