Limerick's Dublin Marathon hero has strong link to Manchester United legends

Ava Crean has taken the Irish marathon scene by storm, claiming national victory at the 2025 Irish Life Dublin Marathon with an astonishing finishing time of 2:34:12, finishing sixth overall, and became the youngest person to win the women’s national title.

Crean, from Mungret, Raheen, began running during Covid, training initially on a treadmill, she only made her marathon debut in Manchester in May, finishing in 2:49:26, before lowering her personal best to 2:43:39 in Limerick a week later.

“I still can’t believe it. I couldn’t have done it without my coach, my family, and my friends,” Crean said.

“When I first started looking at marathons, I saw Anne-Marie had won this race two years in a row. Seeing 2:34 today, I just can’t believe it!”

Crean tracked Ann-Marie McGlynn (Strabane AC) for the opening 25k, with the Tyrone athlete having to settle for national silver this year, having won back-to-back titles.

McGlynn crossed the line in two hours, thirty-six minutes and twenty-four seconds, with Nichola Sheridan of Bohermeen AC winning national bronze (2:39:56 PB).

The young athlete is currently studying exercise science at University Academy 92 in Manchester, an accelerated course co-founded by Manchester United legends including Gary Neville and Paul Scholes.

Despite the intense schedule, Crean has rapidly progressed in the marathon world.

“John Kinsella is my coach. When I won Limerick, he contacted me and started proper training. Every day after work, he came out to train with me around Raheen. It’s been incredible having that support,” she said.

Crean reflected on her journey from starting with 500m intervals on a treadmill to winning a national marathon in under three hours.

“I started running during Covid and couldn’t even manage 500 metres without stopping. Now I’ve run 2:34. If you’re starting out, just get outside. You can stop whenever you want. Just start.”

She also drew inspiration from elite runners like Anne-Marie McGlynn, who kept pace with her in the early stages of the Dublin course.

“I just wanted to stay with her as long as I could. She missed the Olympics by four seconds and is 46. I want to be like her,” Crean concluded.

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Limerick’s Dublin Marathon hero has strong link to Manchester United legends

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