Senshin athletes enjoyed a successful Connacht Championships on 14 February, with gold-medal performances across the age groups. Fionn Branagan, Dylan Murphy and Aidan Shaw each won titles in two divisions, giving the team several standout results.
Fionn won cadet under-55kg and junior under-60kg gold. Dylan took junior and senior under-81kg gold, while Aidan won the junior and senior over-100kg titles. Joshua Moore added junior under-66kg gold, with Adam Murphy taking the cadet under-66kg title.
Minor results
Gold: Leaha McNally (girls, under 36kg); Finbar Sayers Salas (boys, under 38kg); Maria Krajewska (girls, under 48kg); Maria Krajewska (girls, over 48kg); Bernard Ziolek (boys, under 46kg).
Silver — finalists: Alice Bonito-Bastos (girls, under 28kg); Donnacha Maher (boys, under 38kg); Kristina Nikolaeva (girls, over 48kg); Oisin Whyte (boys, over 46kg).
Bronze: Kyle Noonan (boys, under 24kg); Tomas Bonito-Bastos (boys, under 24kg); Leon Grandjean (boys, under 27kg); Adam Powala (boys, under 27kg); Brooke Kelly (girls, under 32kg); Ayzelle Dominique Soltes (girls, under 40kg); Iarlaith Meehan (boys, under 34kg); Emily Tuohy (girls, under 40kg); Jacob Moore (boys, under 38kg); Philip Baran (boys, over 46kg).
Pre-cadet results
Gold: Connor Rodriguez (boys, under 46kg); Mark Duane (boys, under 50kg).
Silver — finalists: Elvin Smal (boys, under 50kg); Ryan Kelly (boys, under 55kg); Bradley Farrell (boys, under 66kg).
Cadet results
Gold: Fionn Branagan (boys, under 55kg); Adam Murphy (boys, under 66kg).
Bronze: Sean McNamara (boys, under 66kg).
Junior results
Gold: Fionn Branagan (men, under 60kg); Joshua Moore (men, under 66kg); Dylan Murphy (men, under 81kg); Aidan Shaw (men, over 100kg).
Silver — finalists: Adam Murphy (men, under 66kg).
Bronze: Sean McNamara (men, under 66kg); Aodhan Zolnai (men, under 73kg).
Senior results
Gold: Aaron Mc Grory (men, under 66kg); Dylan Murphy (men, under 81kg); Aidan Shaw (men, over 100kg).
Silver — finalists: Joshua Moore (men, under 66kg); Hazem Shawi (men, under 73kg).
Bronze: Aodhan Zolnai (men, under 73kg).
The significance of a double title
The three double-title performances make an instructive comparison. Fionn succeeded in cadet and junior divisions, while Dylan and Aidan each won at junior and senior level. These results span different stages of the competitive programme. Each title stands in its own division, even when the same athlete appears more than once.
The report also includes teammates sharing podium categories. Adam and Sean both feature at cadet under-66kg, with Adam winning gold and Sean bronze. Joshua's junior gold and senior silver offer a further example of an athlete competing successfully across two age groups. The result is a team story with several strong individual threads.
Foundations at the younger end
The minor and pre-cadet results deserve their own attention. Connor and Mark's pre-cadet golds sit alongside medals for Elvin, Ryan and Bradley. At minor level, the range of categories represented shows that the club's competition activity reaches beyond a small group of older athletes.
A younger judoka's competition experience also belongs within a wider education. Learning to prepare, follow instructions and meet an unfamiliar opponent can provide a useful challenge. The appropriate level of competition depends on the child, with coaching judgement and the family's circumstances helping to guide that choice.
Joining a club with room to develop
For prospective members, these championships illustrate the range of judo that can sit within one organisation. A beginner does not need a competition ambition to have a place at Senshin. Equally, an athlete who becomes interested in taking the sport further should be able to see where that conversation might lead.
The entry point remains a suitable class and a manageable routine. Ask Senshin about a free trial in Athenry or Briarhill, and describe your child's experience so the team can recommend an appropriate group. The competition pathway can wait until the foundations, interest and readiness are there.