In so many ways, this was a day of celebration. New stars emerged for Irish marathon running in Stephen Scullion and Aoife Cooke, home-grown heroes of what was a glorious festival of celebratory suffering on the streets of the capital.

“Everything does happen for a reason,” says Ann-Marie McGlynn, and when you trace the path of the 39-year-old’s career, it’s hard to disagree.

The VHI Women’s Mini Marathon has been won by Ann-Marie McGlynn from Strabane, County Tyrone.

John Coghlan held off London 2012 Olympic marathoner Mark Kenneally to take the St. Patrick’s festival 5k road race in Dublin city centre yesterday, a race organised by his father Eamonn Coghlan.

Athletics: Athletics