Tipp athletes to the fore at Munster Cross Country Championships
The Munster Novice Cross Country Championships took place last Sunday in Conna, Co. Cork.
Athletes had to contend with strong winds, while the underfoot was very firm for the majority of the course.
Women
Eileen McCullough of Moyne AC ran a great race, up close to the leaders in the early part of the race. She kept the pace going to finish seventh (17.01). This performance spurred on the rest of the county athletes, and they responded with Suzanne Shine (Clonmel AC, 12th), Louise Fogarty (Moyne AC, 13th), Carmel Fitzgibbon (Clonmel AC, 14th) and Catherine Fogarty (Dundrum AC, 15th).
These performances saw the County team of Eileen, Suzanne, Louise, & Carmel win the bronze medals in a very competitive race. There was also good running from athletes like Sarah Whelan (Clonmel AC, 31st), Sareen Walsh (Clonmel AC 32nd), Caroline Fogarty (Moyne AC 40th), Amanda Langley (Thurles Crokes AC 41st), Lyndsey Ryan) Thurles Crokes AC 42nd), Deniece Touhy (Thurles Crokes AC 45th), Martina Ryan (Thurles Crokes AC 47th), Marie Prior (Dualla Ballytarsna Boherlahan 48th), Joan Stakelum (Thurles Crokes 49th), Regina Dorney (Thurles Crokes AC 52nd), and Nollaig Heffernan (Ballytarsna Boherlahan AC 53rd).
At Inter Club level, Clonmel were fourth and Thurles Crokes were seventh.
Men
The Men’s race was also very competitive and right from the start of the four-lap race, Tipperary athletes were to the fore. Barry Hartnett (Dundrum AC), the current county Intermediate champion, went to the front and soon had the field well stretched out with three more county athletes in the leading group, Mossie Bracken (Moycarkey/Coolcroo AC), and the Fethard AC duo of Emmet McNamara & Louis Rice.
Barry was still setting a strong pace going out on final lap, with now the leading group down to five. On the final lap, Mossie Bracken went to the front and made a very bold bid for victory only to be caught on the line, only three seconds separated the top three, oh what a finish. This was a brilliant performance by Mossie, and he had the honour of leading the County team, six to score, to gold medals, a race achievement and even more so by beating Cork on home ground.
He was ably backed up by Barry Hartnett Dundrum AC (5th), Emmet McNamara (Fethard AC 7th), William Hughes (Thurles Crokes AC 8th), Louis Rice (Fethard AC 10th) & Christy Aylward (Clonmel AC 14th). There were also good performances from: Cathal De Faoite (Clonmel AC 20th), Patrick Davoren (Clonmel AC 36th), Trevor Whelan (Clonmel AC 55th), Willie O’Donoghue (Mooreabbey Milers AC 56th), Michael McNamara (Clonmel AC 67th), John Renehan (Moyne AC 69th) and Liam Meaney (Moycarkey/Coolcroo AC 77th).
In the Inter club competition, Clonmel AC were fifth.
Juvenile
Sunday also saw a whole host of Tipperary Juvenile athletes travel to Conna to take part in the Munster Even-Age Cross Country Championships.
U10 Girls - Clara O’Donnell (Clonmel AC) and Poppy Shanahan (Moyne AC) secured medals finishing fifth and eleventh respectively. They led the Tipperary team to the bronze medal where the other scorers were: Laoise Prior (Dualla Ballytarsna Boherlahan AC 16th), Emer Dorney (Thurles Crokes AC 23rd), Quin Corbett (Moyne AC 35th) & Aoibheann Doyle (Moyne AC 40th). Moyne AC finished in fourth in the club competition with the team comprising of Poppy Shanahan 11th, Quin Corbett 35th, Aoibheann Doyle 40th & Annabelle Butler 90th.
U10 Boys - Tipperary boasted two top 12 finishes as Jack Ryan (Templemore AC) and David de Burca (Dundrum AC) put in brilliant performances to finish sixth and twelfth. The Tipperary team also picked up bronze medals. Scoring members were: Jack Ryan (Templemore AC 6th), David de Burca (Dundrum AC 12th), Cormac Hanrahan (Nenagh Olympic AC 17th), Evan Savage (Newport AC 23rd), Archie Spillane (Thurles Crokes AC 31st) & Billy Horan (Fethard AC 41st).
U12 Girls - Ellen Maher (Dundrum AC) stormed to an eighth place finish to secure an medal and a place at the National Championships which will take place in Enniskillen next month. Orlaith Frisby (Carrick-on-Suir AC) finished in 16th place while the Tipperary team were fifth.
U12 Boys - Michael Hynes (Nenagh Olympic AC) produced a brilliant run to claim the silver medal and a spot at the National Championships. Michael led the Tipperary team home to bronze medals where they will now also head to the National Championships. The team was also made up of: Dylan Noonan (Fethard AC 20th), Matthew Esmonde (Moyne AC 28th), Aaron Savage (Newport AC 29th), Luke Kavanagh (Templemore AC 32nd), and Tadhg Quinlan (Templemore AC 47th).
U14 Girls - Caoimhe Slevin was the first of the Tipperary competitors across the line in in 24th place while the Tipperary team finished in fourth place.
U14 Boys - Two Tipperary athletes claimed medals and national final spots as Albert Maher (Dundrum AC) finished in sixth while Luke Duggan (Templemore AC) came home in twelfth. Albert & Luke guided the Tipperary team to the bronze medal as they earned a spot at the National Championships. Other scoring members were: Fionn Aird (Clonmel AC 21st), Christopher Mills (Thurles Crokes AC 40th), Harry Cahill (Thurles Crokes AC 42nd) & Charlie Cahill (Thurles Crokes 44th).
U16 Girls - Leah Berry (Newport AC) led home the Tipperary contingent in 24th position and led the Tipperary team to a fourth place finish.
U16 Boys - Darragh Boland was the best of the Tipperary athletes where he finished in 20th position. Unfortunately, there was not a sufficient number of Tipperary athletes to make up a county team.
U18-20 Boys - Nenagh Olympic AC were the sole Tipperary representatives where. Diarmuid Moloney was first home as third overall and second in the U18 competition, while Kevin Finn finished seventh overall and fifth in the U18 category. They were backed up by teammates Ben Walshe 23rd, Thomas Bergin 33rd, Ruairi Walshe 41st to claim the silver medal in the U20 competition.
All roads lead to Thurles next weekend where we return to County action as clubs prepare for the Juvenile Cross Country Relays.