Galway SC steps it up at the Irish Short Course Nationals
GSC’s senior swimmers had a superb trip to Lisburn for the Irish short course nationals held from 30th November until 2nd December.
There were 11 podium places for GSC swimmers, with 4 national titles, 3 bronze and 4 silver and 53 PBs. The team also set 15 Connacht records (9 senior and 5 senior) with Cian Duffy also setting an Irish Junior Record in the 200 IM.
Throughout the meet, the Galway swimmers were in fine form, producing some sublime individual & team performances.
Cian Duffy dominated the 100 IM from start to finish, winning gold in the event with a time of 57.25 and also set new Connacht Junior & Senior records.
In the mens 200 IM, Cian again started strongly the race, winning the title in a new Irish Junior record time of 2.03.42, which was 0.6 inside his own Irish Junior record set at the European short course championships in France in November. Cian’s time was also a U19 & Senior record. Cian then went on to win bronze in the Mens 100 Backstroke, setting another new Connacht Junior & Senior record.
David O’Sullivan, in a finger tip finish, won gold in the Open 100 Butterfly with a time of 55.93 and also set new Connacht Junior and Senior records. Continuing on his success, he won an impressive silver in the mens 200 Butterfly with a time of 2.02.10. He continued his great form on the Butterfly, when he also picked up a silver medal in the Open mens 50m dash.
In the mens 50 Breaststroke sprint, Kevin McGlade won a bronze medal for GSC. Kevin also went on to set a new Connacht Senior record in the 50 Freestyle final.
In the womens 4×50 Medley relay final, the GSC team of Angela O’Connor, Keena Walsh, Ruth Keogh and Dairne Ryan took the silver medal in a great race, setting a new Connacht Senior record in the process.
Keena Walsh won silver in the womans 100 IM having an excellent swim setting a new personal best time. Keena was then joined by teammates Dairne Ryan, Angela O’Connor & Ruth Keogh in the womans 4×50 Freestyle relay where they added a bronze medal to the tally, setting a new Connacht record in the process.
There was more relay success for the GSC girls in the Womens relay when the team of Dairne Ryan, Ruth Keogh, Kate Finn and Keena Walsh won the National title in the 4×100 Freestyle relay swimming a superb time of 3.58.32 in the last race of the meet which was also a new Connacht senior record.
Galway SC would like to congratulate the team on a superb weekend of competing and extend a sincere thanks to the Team Managers Ger Keogh, Helen Duffy and Melita Walsh who gave great support to the team whilst at the busy meet.
