Sligo sports stars impress
THERE was double celebrations for young Sligo athletes at the weekend as both rugby’s Cillian Gallagher and swimmer Mona McSharry were victorious.
Cillian was part of the Ireland U20s who defeated Scotland in their opening RBS Six Nations Championship in Scotland. Cillian, from Heatherview, is vice captain of Nigel Carolan’s side and the Connacht flanker played an important role in the narrow victory, where Ireland came away with a 20- 19 win, only their second time ever to defeat Scotland in the Six Nations.
Meanwhile, there was jubilation for Grange swimmer Mona McSharry who won an incredible five Gold medals at the Swim Ulster Internationals.
The 16- year- old student also set a new Irish Junior record in the 50m butterfly, 100m breaststroke and 200m breaststroke. Mona, a member of the Marlins Club, also managed to qualify for this year’s European Junior Championships which are taking place in Israel and also the World Junior Championships which are in the US.
The teenager won five gold medals during the competition in Bangor, winning the 100m and 200m breaststroke events, as well as the 100m freestyle gold.
Mona won three gold medals at last summer’s Irish National Swimming Championships and also a Silver and Bronze at the European Juniors in Hungary, a feat which earned her a deserved homecoming celebration in Grange.