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New Irish sprint champ Sarah Leahy still buzzing after spectacular win at nationals

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3 weeks ago

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Sarah Leahy celebrates after winning gold at the National Indoor Championships in Dublin. Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile.

by Adam Moynihan

Star Killarney athlete Sarah Leahy says she's still “buzzing” this week following her spectacular victory in the 60m sprint at the National Indoor Championships in Dublin on Sunday.

Leahy regained the title she last won in 2023 by fending off Ciara Neville (Emerald AC) and Sive O’Toole (St Laurence O’Toole AC), crossing the line in a time of 7.39 seconds.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic,” the 25-year-old told the Killarney Advertiser. “I’m back to work now so reality kicks in pretty quickly! But I achieved one of my main goals for the winter. The main thing on Sunday was to get the title. I didn’t get my PB yet (her current PB in the 60m is 7.30 seconds) but I’ll try again on Saturday at the Leinster Indoors.”

Preparation is key and the Killarney Valley woman felt things couldn’t have gone any better in that regard.

“The winter training was tough but it was the best I’ve done over the past three years. The gym is going great, although I don’t think my strength really showed the last day. I think there’s definitely more there and I should be running quicker. I was really focussed on my mindset leading up to the competition because we all do the training; it’s the mental part of it that makes or breaks you. I made myself really confident and that definitely helped me over the line.

“[At the start line] I was concentrating on myself, telling myself to not let the race get away from me, and not to panic if the people next to me get out quicker or if I can feel them on my shoulder. Just keep the focus, because I’ve definitely lost that focus before. In a few All-Ireland finals I was winning up to the last four or five metres and then I lost.

“On Sunday I just had that extra experience and I had that belief in the work that I’d done. I didn’t let the external environment pull me down.”

Leahy looked to be in a strong position from start to finish but it was a competitive race and the commentator on the Athletics Ireland stream initially felt she might have been pipped by Neville at the post. The Killarney native knew she had done enough, however.

“It’s always a bit of a blur but I do remember thinking if there’s any photos of me mid-race my face will look a little bit worried! There was a delay at the start so I felt a little bit fatigued halfway through – not as energetic as I was hoping for. But I got that out of my head and said, ‘we’re here to win the race by any means necessary’.

“There were girls beside me but when we got to the line, I didn’t dip. I knew I had it. It was very close and usually from my perspective it’s very hard to tell. One of the things I’ve been training for is not to dip. I’m not the best at it and I know I’ll run quicker if I run through the line. So when we got to the line, I was pretty confident. I knew I had won.”

Sarah had support on the day from her boyfriend Daniel, close friends, and parents Marie and Mike, both of whom were brought into the post-race interview. They were the only non-athletes interviewed on the day.

Speaking to host Mick Bowler and holding back the tears, Mike said: “It’s fantastic. Nerve-racking, absolutely nerve-racking, but it was fantastic. We’re very proud of her.”

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Competition and camaraderie at Flesk Valley indoor event

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4 days ago

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14 March 2025

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Flesk Valley Rowing Club hosted an enjoyable and competitive indoor rowing competition at the Killarney Racecourse on Sunday last, in association with the Kerry Coastal Rowing Association.

At a venue more renowned for the soothing sounds of traditional music and dance, the relentless grind of rowing machines dominated.

Flesk Valley welcomed 10 clubs from as far afield as Cahersiveen and Ballinacurra in County Cork and the event proved a great success, with racing from U12 beginners up to Masters.

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the relay showdown between the appropriately named ‘Legends’ and the mixed U18 crews of the participating clubs. On this occasion – perhaps not surprisingly – experience won out.

Speaking after the event, the Flesk Valley chairman John Fleming (himself a medal winner on the day) said that the club was delighted with how the event went and thanked the Kerry Coastal Rowing Association, the Irish Coastal Rowing Federation and participating clubs for their support. “This is our first time running an event like this and there was a fantastic atmosphere in the venue all day. The racing was very competitive but there was also great camaraderie and fun amongst all the clubs which is every bit as important.”

John also thanked the members of his own club who organised and ran the event. “We have a very enthusiastic and proactive committee in the club, and we get great support from parents and rowers whenever we ask for it.”

John went on to thank Celtic Steps and the Killarney Racecourse for their encouragement and support, and he expressed optimism that it might become a fixture on the Kerry rowing calendar moving forward.

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Is Gooch the GOAT? Players and fans have their say

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4 days ago

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14 March 2025

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Legendary Killarney footballer Colm Cooper is the greatest Kerry player of all time, according to former teammates Seán O’Sullivan and Barry John Keane.

Speaking to Killarney Advertiser sports editor Adam Moynihan on The Kerry Football Podcast, O’Sullivan and Keane both selected the Dr Crokes man as the county’s best-ever talent, with the great Maurice Fitzgerald and modern-day superstar David Clifford also name-checked in the conversation.

In an Instagram poll hosted by Adam that had over 500 respondents, Kerry supporters also chose Gooch as the Kingdom’s GOAT. The five-time All-Ireland winner attracted 44% of the vote, with Clifford (26%) and Fitzgerald (24%) in second and third.

A fourth option of ‘someone else’ was selected by 6% of fans with Jack O’Shea, Séamus Moynihan, Declan O’Sullivan, James O’Donoghue and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh all mentioned.

“From the first night at training (in 2002), Gooch just changed our set-up,” O’Sullivan recalled. “He lit the place up and didn’t stop for the bones of 14 years. I think that really says it all. I wouldn’t do him justice if I tried to describe the things he did at training.

“The biggest compliment I could give Colm Cooper is he brought the best out of the rest of us. No matter where you were, whether it was the Stadium, Stack Park, Páirc Uí Chaoimh or Croke Park, once you saw Colm running out alongside you, you knew you had a chance. Clifford is in that vein and so is Maurice Fitz, but the Gooch was just incredible.”

Keane agreed. “It’s so hard but Gooch has always been my GOAT,” the Kerins O’Rahillys forward said. “Clifford is 100% my number two but even if he goes on to do better things, I probably won’t change my mind. There’s just something about the Gooch. He was a cheat code.”

Putting forward an argument for Clifford, Adam said he believes the two-time Footballer of the Year is capable of doing things no one else could. “I loved watching Gooch. Some days he was just untouchable. He was a warrior and an unbelievable player.

“The things you single Gooch out for – his skill levels, his scoring, his creativity and his passing – I think Clifford can do most, if not all, of what Gooch could do. I think he’s that good. And there are certain things, because of his size, that Clifford can do that Gooch and Maurice Fitz couldn’t.

“Of course, legacy comes into it too and if you’re talking about legacy the Gooch has more All-Irelands, so he goes ahead. But, for me, just judging the player out on the field, I’m going to go for David Clifford. I just think he’s the best footballer I’ve ever seen.”

There were honourable mentions also for Pat Spillane, Mikey Sheehy, Mick O’Connell and Dick Fitzgerald, though the lads agreed that it was difficult to fairly assess players from past generations. 

The question was also put to former Kerry captain Dara Ó Cinnéide on last week’s episode of The Kerry Football Podcast. He opted for Fitzgerald.

“I always say to people that Maurice had as many bad games for Kerry as he had good games. He wasn’t as consistent as someone like Séamus Moynihan or these lads. But when he was good…

“When Maurice hit the high notes, there was nobody to compare with him.”

What do you think? Who is Kerry’s greatest ever player? Email sport@killarneyadvertiser.ie to join the debate.

You can listen to The Kerry Football Podcast on Patreon. Become a member and get exclusive access to all episodes, including big game previews, post-match analysis and interviews with Kerry stars past and present.

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