special to Irish Runner.com by Eoghan Young-Murphy

Robert Connolly's improvement curve may have reached a plateau after he claimed a bronze medal at the European Under-23 Championships 5,000m in 2003, but his performance in leaving double Olympian James Nolan trailing in his wake in the Rathfarnham 5km on Sunday marked an emphatic return to form.

Two years ago the Dundrum star was heralded as a future star: an athlete in the vanguard of those best placed to help fill Ireland's middle-distance void. He was then coached by Jerry Kiernan and, when they decided to part company, you felt the horizon looked even brighter.

But for one reason or another, his progress since then has been laboured. A move to Iona College, where he would come under the wing of Mick Byrne, didn't spark an immediate elevation to world class and he had to reluctantly return to Ireland before he could benefit from the new training regime.

Yet on Sunday in Rathfarnham, he finally delivered a performance that suggested his aspiration of qualifying for the European Championships next year is not quite a pipe dream. His winning time of 13.57 minutes was sufficient to see him ease consummately to victory; James Nolan's second place clocking of 14.11 showed he has made measured strides in recent weeks.

Of all those who participated, Raheny's Mark Kirwan was perhaps the most impressive. Kirwan is member of the Dick Hooper-led cadre of youngsters with bright futures, and he confirmed his status as credentials by clocking sixth in 14.46 minutes.

Jolene Byrne's decision to forgo the event not only meant her expected duel with Maria McCambridge never transpired - it also rendered the women's race a far less competitive than its men's equivalent.

So, however disappointed McCambridge may have been with failing by just five seconds to better the course record she set last year - 15.25 - it was hardly surprising, especially considering her nearest challenger was over forty seconds adrift.

Men's Top3
1) Robert Connolly, Dundrum South Dublin, 13.57
2) James Nolan, Tullamore Harriers, 14.11
3) Gerry Ryan, Galway City Harriers, 14.29