Nenagh athletes to the fore at Munster Cross Country Champs
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Nenagh Olympic AC Junior Men’s team of Luke Purcell, Diarmuid Moloney, Daniel Ryan Ellis, Cian Hodgins, Jamie Moloney, Thomas Bergin and Ben Walshe who won the Munster Club Cross Country title. PicasaImage 2 of 5
Nenagh Olympic’s James Tanner won gold in the Munster Under 23 Cross Country Championships. PicasaImage 3 of 5
Nenagh Olympic AC Under 18’s at the Munster Cross Country Championships, from left: Thomas Bergin, Diarmuid Moloney (winner) and Ben Walshe. PicasaImage 4 of 5
Nenagh Olympic’s Niamh Cunneen won silver in the Munster Under 23 Cross Country Championships. PicasaImage 5 of 5
Nenagh Olympic’s Kevin Finn won the Munster Under 16 Cross Country title, with club-mate Ruairi Walsh PicasaThe Munster Junior & Novice Cross Country Championships took place last Sunday in Cooraclare, Co. Clare.
Conditions were very good with sunny weather for the athletes who competed over a very good cross-country course.
In the Junior women’s race, Laura Cooney of Clonmel ran a brilliant race in winning the bronze medal in 20 mins 40 secs. Laura went out with the early pace and was well in contention throughout the event. Laura should be delighted with this, her debut performance, at this event.
We also saw good running from Meabh Meegan, also of Clonmel AC, who was 34th and is eligible for this event next year.
The next event on the programme was the Junior Men’s race. Here there was some great performances from the Nenagh Olympic contingent. Luke Purcell ran a brilliant race when winning the silver medal in 16 mins 17 secs. Then we had the glorious sight of three Nenagh Olympic vests coming through strongly to top seven placings with Diarmuid Moloney 5th (16:38), Daniel Ryan Ellis 6th (16:48) and Cian Hodgins 7th (16:53).
With four to score on the inter-club event, Nenagh Olympic were very worthy champions with four athletes in the top seven. We also saw great running from Conor Flaherty of Clonmel 14th (17:24), Jamie Moloney of Nenagh Olympic 27th (18:17), Thomas Bergin - Nenagh Olympic 30th (18:35), Ben Walshe - Nenagh Olympic 45th (20:11) and he is still eligible in 2024.
The Munster Novice & Under 23 women’s 5k race was also a very competitive race. Niamh Cunneen of Nenagh Olympic ran a brilliant race when finishing third overall to win the novice bronze medal and the under 23 silver medal 19 mins 55 secs. Niamh went with the leaders and midway through the race moved into the silver medal position and maintained a strong pace to finish second overall.
We also saw some great performances from Suzanne Shine Clonmel 18th (22:05), Karen Coughlan Dundrum 23rd (22:55) and Sareen Walsh Clonmel 26th (23:02). This quartet combined very well to win the Inter-County bronze medals. We also saw great running from athletes like Sarah Whelan Clonmel 28th (23:11) and Edel Delaney Moyne 40th (24:33).
The final race on the programme was the Munster Men Under 23 & Novice Cross Country Championships. James Tanner of Nenagh Olympic underlined his good form, when going out with the leading group for most of the race. Then over the final 2k he moved into the silver medal position and despite a few late challenges over the final 400m, held on to win the Under 23 gold medal as well as the Novice silver medal in 20 mins 57 secs.
We also saw good performances from Barry Hartnett - Dundrum 12th (21:55), Denis McCullough - Thurles Crokes 42nd (24:18), Willie O’Donoghue - Mooreabbey Milers 45th (24:46), Jim Halley - Dundrum 60th (26:28), Liam McCullough - Thurles Crokes 64th (27:32) and Michael Moore - Dundrum 67th (28:48). The county team were placed fourth, just four points off the bronze medals.