Cork duo Niamh Allen and Fiona Everard power Ireland to European silver medal
Niamh Allen helped Ireland to a silver medal in Italy. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Ireland’s women secured a superb silver medal at the European 10,000m Cup in La Spezia, Italy on Saturday evening, delivering an excellent team performance in extremely hot conditions at the Centro Sportivo Alessandro Montagna Stadium.
The Irish women’s scoring team members of Niamh Allen (Leevale AC), Fiona Everard (Bandon AC), and Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (West Limerick AC) combined brilliantly in the Final (A) to finish second overall behind hosts Italy, claiming only Ireland’s second-ever medal in the history of the event - following hot on the heels of Efrem Gidey’s historic individual gold medal last year.
Women’s Team Standings 2026 Italy – 1:37:24.57 Ireland – 1:38:16.07 Spain – 1:38:42.07 Leading the Irish charge was Leevale AC’s Niamh Allen, who produced another outstanding performance to finish sixth in 32:15.79, securing the European Championships B standard in the process to continue her excellent run of international form.
Bandon AC athlete Fiona Everard continued her impressive season with a personal best of 32:41.28 to place tenth. Everard has enjoyed a superb six months of racing, including a top-10 finish at the European Cross Country Championships, a top-25 finish at the World Cross Country Championships, and a recent 31:58 PB victory in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, France.
Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill of West Limerick AC marked her senior international debut in style, finishing 20th in the A race with a season’s best performance of 33:19.00.
Strong performances in Final B from Faye Dervan 8th (Dublin City Harriers) 34:32.84 PB, Emily Haggard-Kearney 12th (North Belfast Harriers) 34:39.91 SB, and Patricia Jackman 13th (Waterford AC) 34:40.54 SB added further depth to an excellent overall team display.
In the men’s competition, Oisín O’Gailín (Finn Valley AC) returned to the venue where he clocked his personal best last year and ran a consistent 29:17.30 in Final A. Jamie Battle (Mullingar Harriers) impressed on his senior international debut, finishing 12th in the B race in 30:11.63.
Unfortunately, both Callum Morgan (Candour Track Club) and Michael Murphy (Tullamore Harriers) were forced to withdraw from their respective races.
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