O'Connor makes up for his Berlin setback

Michael O'Connor came to Dublin yesterday with the sole intention of becoming national men's champion, and as the first Irish finisher - and 14th overall - he did exactly that, even if his time of 2:25.48 was disappointing on a day when the course record fell so decisively.

Yet, the 34- year-old from Ballinderreen in Galway had only decided three weeks ago to run in Dublin, having dropped out of last month's Berlin marathon with a foot injury.

He took his first title just clear of defending champion Cian McLoughlin, and four-times previous winner Gary Crossan.

"I trained very hard for Berlin, but after passing halfway in 69 minutes had to drop out," said O'Connor. "So I'd tried twice this year to run very fast times, and blew up both times. So I came here to win the national championships, and that's what I did. It was good to have the other boys around me, because I knew where I was, and they're all seasoned marathon runners.

"I got an awful shock at halfway because we were so slow, around 74 minutes, but we were playing cat and mouse a bit. But it picked up then. And after that it was hard work. There was a fair breeze out on the course as well.

"I wasn't sure what Cian had left, but I didn't want to leave it until the last mile. But I was tired finishing, no doubt about that. We were both knackered, and I think I just wanted it more than him. I thought I was in shape to run 2:20, but I don't care about the time. Winning was all I cared about."

McLoughlin was next home in 2:26.22, 15th overall, and then Crossan in 2:26.58.

Winning back the women's title at age 39 was Tullamore's Pauline Curley, who first won in 2005, but was then edged out in the finishing straight last year.

Curley had nothing to worry about this time as she came home in 2:42.30, well ahead of second-placed Lucy Brennan (2:50.03), with Bríd Griffin third in 3:09.04.