Cathal Doyle ready for another 'dog fight' with rival Coscoran in drive for five 

The 28-year-old has won the last four men’s 1500m titles at the 123.ie National Track and Field Championships.

Cathal Doyle of Clonliffe Harriers AC, Dublin, celebrates winning the men's 1500m during day two of the 123.ie National Outdoor Senior Championships at Morton Stadium. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

The nerves will come. They always do. The difference this year is that Cathal Doyle has taken steps to address them, speaking to someone who taught him how to channel them in key moments – making them act as his servant rather than his master.

“That's probably something I did struggle with in the past,” admits the 28-year-old Dubliner, who has won the last four men’s 1500m titles at the 123.ie National Track and Field Championships. His drive for five will play out in Santry tomorrow evening, the men’s 1500m final likely throwing up a clash with Andrew Coscoran.

Only two Irishmen – Eamonn Coghlan and Frank Murphy – have won five national 1500m titles and Doyle could join them this weekend. “I’m not trying to think about [that], I’m nervous enough as it is on the day,” he says. “I’m sure other people [will] say it, but I try not to think about it.” Doyle and Coscoran have clashed three times in the national 1500m final, with Doyle finishing fifth in 2019 when Coscoran got disqualified for obstruction. Coscoran edged a photo finish between them to win in 2021, while Doyle took a narrow victory last year.

“I think I bring out the best in him and likewise, he brings out the best in me,” says Doyle. “I’d like to think when people see our names next to each other they think, ‘OK, this is going to be a good one.’ You know it’s going to be a dog fight to the line.” It’s been a solid season to date, and crucial to note here is the context. Ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo last year, Doyle developed osteitis pubis, which left him unable to bend over to tie his shoelaces in the days before his 1500m heat, where he trailed home 12th in 3:42.60. It took him six months to get back training properly.

In recent years Doyle has been based in Brighton, coached by Jon Bigg, and the move across the water has coincided with his rise to the sport’s elite bracket.

“I probably should have gone sooner,” he says. “I think when you expose yourself to people who are a lot better than you, and just the type of training we do, there's just so much stuff that I was so alien [to] and just hadn't a clue about. I think it just kind of leveled me up.” Last year, Doyle ran 3:32.15, which puts him second on the Irish all-time list behind Coscoran’s 3:30.42. This year he has twice run 3:34 and twice run 3:33.

“I was a long time out injured, and the stuff I couldn’t really do, it was starting to look obvious in my first few races. It was frustrating as I was dying in the last 60, 70 of every race. But if you look at it as a whole, I’m probably a lot more consistent than last year. I’m progressing nicely at the back end of the season, when you need to be at your best.” He ran well to finish fourth at the Morton Mile earlier this month, clocking 3:52.24, though that time had a fresh context last weekend after Josh Kerr broke the world record in London, clocking 3:42.66. Doyle watched the race at his girlfriend’s house in Clare, a performance he describes as “quite nuts”.

“Someone said to me, ‘Is that motivating or demoralising?’ Then I think, ‘Oh shit, I did run 10 seconds slower than that at Morton.’ But yeah, it’s fairly crazy. I didn’t think he’d do it until I saw his 1200m [split] and thought, ‘Ah, he will do it.’” In an era of advanced footwear and fuelling technologies, Doyle knows the bar is ascending. “It’s constantly evolving so you just have to keep up. I have a 3:32 flat, quite a lot of people have that now. You just have to constantly keep the foot down or you will get left behind.” Two weeks out from the European Championships, Sunday’s showdown will offer a clear indication of where he sits now – and a chance to join two Irish athletics greats on that nationals roll of honour.

“It's just a good buzz after you do win,” he says. “I suppose you're just kind of chasing that feeling over and over again.” 

Top three events to watch 

Women’s 200m final: Today, 3.30pm There’s more than a national title at stake here as Rhasidat Adeleke takes her final shot at qualification for next month’s European Championships, the Tallaght sprinter needing to run 22.85 to book her spot, having run 22.86 earlier this year before injury blighted her season. She’s won the national 100m title three times but has yet to win an outdoor title over 200m and Adeleke will have her work cut out to do so, with Lauren Roy, who’s run 22.83 this year, in the field, and potentially Sharlene Mawdsley, who could crack 23 seconds for the first time.

Men’s 800m final: Tomorrow, 6:50pm A heavyweight clash as Cian McPhillips seeks to depose Mark English from his throne, but the Longford athlete will have to be at his best to do so. McPhillips broke English’s national record to finish fourth in the world final last year but hasn’t yet hit the same heights this year, having struggled with physical issues in the spring. Last weekend, English beat McPhillips by a second at the London Diamond League and this championship race, without pacemakers, will play to English’s strengths given his lightning speed and vast tactical experience. English, 33, is seeking his 20th national title, having won 10 outdoors and nine indoors, while McPhillips is looking to win his first outdoor title, having claimed the indoor crown in 2024.

Men’s 1500m final: Tomorrow, 7:45pm Another heavyweight clash as Andrew Coscoran seeks to deny Cathal Doyle a fifth consecutive national 1500m title. Coscoran has won this title once, in 2021, with Doyle winning the last four, and there’s usually little between them at the denouement of each clash. Coscoran has run quicker this year, 3:31.65 to Doyle’s 3:33.52, but Doyle’s finishing kick will be dangerous, especially in the absence of pacemakers. Nick Griggs is also lining up and the 21-year-old is looking for his first national outdoor title, but could struggle to match the finishing speed of the above duo.

123.ie National Track and Field Championships: Live, Athletics Ireland YouTube (Saturday and Sunday); RTÉ Two (6pm Sunday)