D.S.D Joy at Dublin Marathon!

It was a delight to see the DSD endurance athletes compete so strongly at the front end of the Dublin City Marathon on Sunday.

It was especially pleasing to see long time Club Stalwarts Meghan Ryan and Killian Mooney achieve a long held ambition of standing on the Dublin City Marathon podium. 

In what was a stacked elite field in the Men’s National Championships, Killian showed no signs of nerves as he went toe to toe with eventual winner Hugh Armstrong from 15K.  Killian had held back through the first 10K assessing his rivals and at 15 K felt strong enough and confident in his form to take to the lead and ask questions of those around him.

By halfway it was a war of attrition between Killian & Hugh, with Hugh edging ahead over the closing miles. 

Killian has been a member of DSD for the last 18 years and has competed over cross country, track and mountains in that time.  Killian has moved to a new phase of his career with a move to the roads.  A recent PB over half marathon is now matched with a PB of 2:15.46 over the marathon.  

In the battle for National honours in the Women’s race, Meghan went one better than 2025 where she finished 4^th, an agonising 30 seconds off a medal. 

This year Meghan managed her effort magnificently over the very windy 26.2 mile course to see off her rivals and claim her first National medal over the Marathon in a time of 2:40.47.

Starting conservatively Meghan was 5^th Irish women at the half way mark. A subtle increase in tempo through to 30K moved Meghan into a 3^rd place that she was destined to hold onto with some strong running to the finish. 

Meghan, the DSD Women’s endurance captain, has been a member of DSD since for 20 years. She has had some notable achievements through her career, including representing Ireland, but not many will match a national medal over the marathon !! 

To make the day even better for DSD, the women’s team won the National Marathon Team title with superb running from Ruby Wall in 7^th place in a massive PB of 2.45.27, Jessica Quinn finished 16^th in a PB of 2:53.52, and in 19^th place Ruth Wislon with a PB of 2.55.56.