O’Rourke, Gillick and Heffernan medal hopes, says Doole

LEADING athletics coach Br John Dooley has picked out Derval O’Rourke, David Gillick and Robert Heffernan as Ireland’s best Olympic medal hopes for the games in London next year.

Dooley, who yesterday received the Cork City Sports Athletics Award, paid tribute to the attitude of the trio.

He said: “It’s very difficult when it comes to the Olympics, particularly when it comes to the athletics, because the Africans just dominate the distance events. Derval O’Rourke, though, has been a wonderful ambassador for us and has that rare ability to produce her best on the big days. She loves those big days and she’s so relaxed before the major competitions — until she gets down to the start line. Then she’s transformed.