Mooney gives standout performance as Offaly athletes run in European cross country

competed in the European Cross Country Championships in Antalya, Turkey last Sunday.

Mooney had a tremendously gutsy and brave run to finish seventh overall in the womens' U23 race after positioning herself in the lead group from the gun.

A Tullamore Harriers athlete who is on a scholarship in the USA, Mooney was the first Irish woman home in the race, helping them to fifth place in the team event. Her fellow Tullamore Harriers' member Ava O'Connor was 37^th and the third Irish scorer in this race – from Emo in Laois, O'Connor is also on a US scholarship.

There were two Offaly competitions in the senior womens' race. Mucklagh native, Ann Marie McGlynn, nee Larkin, was 62^nd. Living in Strabane and racing for Letterkenny AC, McGlynn was a member of Tullamore Harriers in her youth and has had a sensational few weeks, winning the Irish senior ladies marathon title in Dublin and taking the national senior cross country win. She was the third scorer on the Irish team that finished 10^th.

Tullamore Harriers' Danielle Donegan made her debut in the senior race here, having been a super eight in the U23 event last year. Donegan was the sixth and last Irish woman home in 74^th place, just behind Fiona Everard of Bandon and the experience will serve her very well.