Mooney and Sheridan crowned inaugural winners of the Dublin City Half Marathon
Scenes at Dublin city half marathon. Pic: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos
Killian Mooney and Nichola Sheridan made history as the inaugural winners of the Dublin City Half Marathon on Sunday morning, the race’s first edition proving a huge success with almost 12,000 competitors taking to the streets of the capital.
Mooney broke away from his rivals just four miles into the race and the 29-year-old, running for Dundrum South Dublin AC, hit the line a comfortable winner in 1:05:40 to take the top prize of €2,500. Next best was David Kelly of St Coca’s AC (1:07:02), with Armagh’s Michael Fox third in 1:07:24.
“I never thought I’d do a half, I was much more of a 10K runner, but I think I may have found my distance now,” said Mooney, who was racing the 21.1-kilometre distance for just the third time.
In the women’s race, it was also a first major title for Sheridan, the 28-year-old Bohermeen AC athlete hitting the line in 1:18:00. A primary school teacher in her native Meath, she revealed that she’d attended her sister’s hen party the previous night.
“This is the biggest win of my career,” she said. “When my dad passed away when I was 18, I took up running again and David Carrie, who was a good friend of my dad’s, started coaching me two years ago. He’s brought my time down from 1:25 to 1:16 and is an amazing support.”
Sportsworld’s Noreen Brouder was next home in 1:21:42, while Edel Gaffney (Trim AC) took third in 1:23:31. Kildare’s Patrick Monahan won the men’s wheelchair race in 50:59 and British Paralympian Jade Hall won the women’s wheelchair event in 57:07.
On a beautiful, blue-sky day in the capital, there was decent crowd support along the route, the event starting on O’Connell Street at 8.30am and touring the city’s northside before looping back to the finish on Guild Street.
Organised by the team behind the Irish Life Dublin Marathon, the demand for such an event was obvious when all 12,500 of the race entries were sold out within 90 minutes of going on sale in January.
“I want to congratulate everyone who participated today, whether you came near the top or the back of the field – what a brilliant achievement to take part in a half marathon,” said Emma Blain, Lord Mayor of Dublin. “We want to make Dublin an active, inclusive city for all.”
Killian Mooney (Dundrum South Dublin AC) 1:05.40
Kevin Kelly (St Coca’s AC) 1:07:02
Michael Fox (Armagh AC) 1:07:24
Nichola Sheridan (Bohermeen AC) 1:18:00
Noreen Broader (Sportsworld) 1:21:42
Edel Gaffney (Trim AC) 1:23:31
Patrick Monahan 50:59
Jade Hall 57:07
