Silver for Tipperary Women in Athletics League Final
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Paddy Ryan of Run Republic (left)presenting jerseys to Martin Flynn and Tipp Womens Athletics team ahead of the National League final.Image 2 of 4
Tipperary - National League silver medalists. Back row: Sharon Cantwell (Moyne AC), Mary Margaret Grace (Nenagh Olympic AC - 1.5k Walk), Lorna O’Shea (Carrick-on-Suir 400m Hurdles), Emily Davidson (Nenagh Olympic AC, 4x100m), Emma O’Neill (Carrick-on-Suir AC, Long Jump, 4x100m), Grace Fitzgerald (Tipperary Town AC, Triple Jump), Dympna Ryan (Dundrum AC, 3000m), Eimear Lynch (Newport AC, 400m, 4x400m), Rachel O’Shea (Carrick-on-Suir AC 100m Hurdles). Front row: Clodagh Donohoe (Nenagh Olympic AC, High Jump & Pole Vault), Ava Palmer (Newport AC, 4x100m, 4x400m), Katie Bergin (Moyne AC, 100m, 200m, 4x100m 4x400m), Jennifer O’Leary (Nenagh Olympic AC, 800m, 1500m 4x400m), Kaley Cozens (Templemore AC, Hammer, Shot Putt), Jade Barry (Carrick-on-Suir AC, Javelin), Lucy Fitzgerald (Tipperary Town AC, 4x100m). Missing from photo: Fiona Hennessy (Templemore AC, Weight for Distance & Discus). PicasaImage 3 of 4
Sixteen-year-old Clodagh Donohue from Nenagh Olympic AC, competed for Tipp in the High Jump PicasaImage 4 of 4
Nenagh Olympic’s Jennifer O’Leary won the 800m & 1500m for Tipp in the National League final. PicasaThe curtain came down for most Track & Field athletes on Sunday at the National League Finals in Tullamore.
In the women’s competition, Tipperary won the silver medal after a hard fought battle with Cork who won the gold with 109 points. Tipperary finished with 106 points ahead of Galway who won the bronze with 102 points. Kildare - 4th 99pts, Louth - 5th, Sligo - 6th, Monaghan 7th.
Tipperary secured the maximum nine points in five different events with Katie Bergin of Moyne AC doing the double in the 100m & 200m, second in the 4x100m relay, and to cap off a long day ran a leg of the 4x400m taking fourth and added five points to the tally.
Katie's personal best in the 100m was 11.86s (wind 1.7m/s) and was a fitting finale to an exceptional year and will bring her into the top 450 for 200m in the World Athletics ranking list announced on Wednesday morning, having started at 791 at the start of the year.
Nenagh Olympics’ Jennifer O'Leary won the 800m & 1500m and ran a leg of the 4x400m relay finishing fourth. Jennifer ran two exceptional within an hour and a half where all the experience gained in running national and international races was called upon to win the 800m event by a few metres, a bright future ahead for this young lady.
Caley Cozens from Templemore AC won the Hammer with a throw of 38.86m, and also competed in the Shot Putt, throwing 8.19m to be sixth overall and securing three points for the Premier County.
Sixteen-year-old Clodagh Donohoe of Nenagh Olympic in her first year competing for Tipperary contributed handsomely to the tally, finishing fourth in the High Jump, and second in the Pole Vault.
Grace Fitzgerald of Tipperary Town AC finished second in the Triple Jump and the evergreen Dympna Ryan of Dundrum AC finished second in the 3000m, after competing in the National master’s Championship on Saturday and ran a leg of 4x400m just for good measure.
Jade Barry of Carrick-on-Suir AC threw 32.47m in the Javelin put in another of those fine performance that we now have come to expect of her even though still in her teenage years.
The loss of Miriam Daly and Niamh Cunneen through injury was a blow to Tipp’s chances of gold and are wished a speedy recovery.
So it was silver for second year in a row will now surely drive on this young squad of athletes, thirteen of whom are under 23 years of age to that elusive gold in 2024.