Mayo trio in the medals at Transplant and Dialysis Games

Mayo trio in the medals


Mike Finnerty

THERE were great celebrations across the county last weekend as Mayo’s three representatives at the European Transplant & Dialysis Games in Dublin returned home laden down with medals.
Westport’s Darren Cawley captured four (three gold and one silver), Liam Duffy from Kilkelly won three (two silver and a bronze) while Manulla native Regina Hennelly scooped two gold medals.
Darren Cawley, one of the country’s most high-profile athletes, was successful in the 100m 30-39, ball throw 30-39, on the golf course (gross score) and finished second in the 400m 30-39.
Liam Duffy finished second in the darts singles 18-29 and petanque singles 18-29, and was third in the ten-pin bowling singles 18-29.
Meanwhile, Regina Hennelly (28), who is currently waiting for a kidney transplant, took gold for Ireland in the badminton women singles event (18-39 Dialysis) and also picked up a gold in the doubles competition.      
Her superb week got even better when she was named, ‘Best Female Dialysis’ competitors of the Games.
The former Mayo News reporter, who is currently working as a freelance journalist with RTE, wrote about her exploits in a blog on the Games website last week.
“I awoke today with a lower body full of muscles that were not speaking to me and two medals by my bed.
“Yesterday was a great one. I could try to be modest, but humility cannot be worn well by everyone. It certainly doesn’t go well with gold ;)
“My victory on the badminton court was a landmark in my personal battle with this kidney failure nonsense. A day of taking and holding control over it and laughing in its face.
“The matches that lay before me at the start of the day were minor compared to some of the head-to-heads that were highlights for the spectators, hell for those involved, but I got through them and got my reward.
“Contrary to the expectations of some glass-half-empty commentators, I did not succumb to Mayo-itis and fold on the big day - perhaps I have a future in motivational speaking, held up as an example to the GAA folk from the county of repeated All-Ireland failures!
“To top off the gold, there was also success in the doubles and this was almost sweeter because it was shared with another Irish contestant and also by extension shared with her lovely family.
“It’s been a long time since I managed to stay up and awake for almost 18 hours, but yesterday something overcame the tiredness.
“I suspect it was something like joy.”