Cast your mind back...

Back in 1988, when Emily Maher and Eileen O'Keeffe had just turned seven years of age, an eminent Irish athlete, Patricia Almond, set a new championship record of 23.47 seconds for the 200m. In the intervening 17 years the event was largely dominated by two sprinters, Michelle Walsh who recorded five wins in that time and more recently Ciara Sheehy who was national champion on six occasions including 2002, 2003 and 2004. Emily came to national and indeed international prominence in 1998 when at 17 years of age she won gold in 100m and 200m at the World Youth Olympics. Despite many successes for her over the last seven years victory in the national championships eluded her but when Emily won her semi-final in 23.87 seconds and Sheehy hers in 23.90, a head to head looked on for the final and so it proved with the title going to the Kilkenny girl. The official time is 23.39 seconds, better than Almond's and a new championship record. She also showed her form in the 100meters where she won bronze, again in a very close finish.