More medals for Irish at Special Olympics
It was another action packed day for Team Ireland at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens with competition in 11 different sports.
It was a big day on the athletics front with John McKiernan from Bawnboy, Co Cavan picking up a gold medal in the men’s 100m walk and Amy Quinn from Bray, Co Wicklow winning bronze in the 100m walk.
There was a medal win also for the 4x100m relay team - Ciara O’ Loughlin from Inagh, Co Clare, Eileen O’ Loughlin from Rathangan, Co Kildare, Martin Mahood from Bangor, Co Down and Timothy Morahan from Dublin, who led the team to their silver medal win.
Ireland’s 11-a-side football team took on Great Britain in a closely contested match The 1-1 result meant that Ireland won a silver medal.
Adrian Clarke from Lifford, Co Donegal scored the all-important goal for the Irish team.
The men’s 5-a-side final proved to be a heart-stopping affair between Ireland and Cyprus. Ireland took gold when the game after the game went into extra time, penalties and then sudden death.
In the women’s basketball final Ireland took on Greece. Ireland won silver in this closely contested final.
In aquatics, Sandra Corr from Coolock in Dublin won silver in the 25m freestyle event while Ciara Trait from Kilkenny secured a bronze medal for her efforts.
In equestrian, John Loughnane from Ahascragh, Co Galway won gold and Pamela Collins from Kanturk, Co Cork took bronze.
In badminton, Adrian Cornwall from Boyle, Co Sligo won gold, while in bowling the women’s team secured a silver medal for their efforts (Deirdre Gannon from Westport, Co Mayo, Deirdre Garvin from Claremorris, Co Mayo, Joyce Haughian from Newry, Co Down and Mary Quigley from Tullow, Co Carlow).
In kayaking, Galway man Ruairi O’ Toole won gold in the 200m while team mates Teresa Maguire from Portarlington, Co Laois and Shaun Bradley from Letterkenny, Co Donegal took silver. Celine Mulready from Dublin secured a bronze in her event.
In table tennis, Robert Deegan from Ballinteer won bronze, Anne-Marie Talbot from Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford won gold and Carole Catling won silver.
Team Ireland’s medal tally currently stands at 87 – 27 Gold, 40 Silver and 20 bronze.
Team Ireland will be in action once again tomorrow in what will be one of the final days of competition.
The closing ceremony on Monday evening will officially mark the end of the Games.
Team Ireland will return to a heroes welcome in Dublin Airport early on Tuesday afternoon.
To follow their progress or to leave a message of support please visit www.specialolympics.ie/athens.
Supprters can also download a free iPhone app from the Apple iStore which will enable you to track your local athlete while on the go. Team Ireland are proudly supported by eircom.
