Medals for Foyle Valley’s deadly duo

Shields made a surprise appearance in Ballybofey at Friday night’s Mac Cumhaill’s GFC 5K road race, winning in 15 minutes and 29 seconds, comfortably ahead of Finn Valley pair Oisin Gallen and Andrew Friel who posted 16 minutes and 26 seconds and 17 minutes even to claim the minor placings.

His clubmate Roy McGilloway ran 17m 18s to finish third Junior and City of Derry’s Joe McCarthy took the O50 age group award on 18m 34s, securing the O50 overall Donegal Grand Prix award in the process.

Rankin and Pius McIntyre were in Belfast on Sunday for the big Laganside 10K road race and the former ran well for the runners up spot behind winner Eddie McGinley of Annadale Striders with McIntyre placed 11th in a field of almost 900 finishers.

The race incorporated the NI&Ulster 10K road championships and McGinley claimed the individual title with a 31m 24s run, Rankin posted 31m 52s with Omagh Harrier Paul Barbour the bronze medallist on 32m 24s.

Not bad for the Foyle Valley man who won Dessie’s run last Tuesday night and will line up in this Sunday’s Waterside Half Marathon among the favourites. McIntyre was clocked at 34m 15s and he too is in the entry list for the Waterside.

Shields intentions are unknown, the defending Waterside champion was reportedly carrying an injury and rated very doubtful for a title defence but perhaps the situation is more fluid now so with him in the up front mix this weekend, the ante is upped significantly.

Meanwhile in Manchester Stephen McGahey’s lengthy injury layoff probably contributed to his runs in the 100m and Sprint relay as part of the NI squad.

He was seventh in the 100m with 11.58s way below his best, the winner was substantially sub 11s, but the NI squad finished fifth in the sprint relay on 43.16s.