Cross Country titles for Cunneen and Flaherty
The County Cross-Country season got under way in earnest in Galbally last Sunday with the Novice Cross Country Championships down for decision.
The local club, Mooreabbey Milers, as usual had a very good course well laid out. Conditions were relatively good considering all the rain we have had in the last week. Warm sunshine greeted the athletes as they descended on the village under the shadow of the Galtee Mountains, which provided a spectacular background view to the whole proceedings.
We witnessed two very good races, and it was great to see some new faces in both races and major credit to the Clubs for encouraging these members to compete in Cross Country with some of them winning medals for their Clubs, it augurs well for the future. We had athletes representing ten clubs as entries very good for both races. Indeed, we had quality as well as quantity and long may it continue. It was a day where youth came to the fore in both races.
In the women’s race the early pace was set by Emma Murray of Clonmel and the eventual winner Niamh Cunneen of Nenagh Olympic. It was only on the third lap of the four-lap race that Niamh moved well clear to win the County title very impressively with Emma winning the silver medal. It was great to see these two athletes emerge from the juvenile ranks and start their senior careers with two very good performances.
Then we had Catherine Fogarty of Dundrum winning the bronze medal with a very good performance, moving into third place on the first lap and maintaining that strong pace to the line.
In the team event, Clonmel retained the team title, with their team of Murray, Sarah Whelan and Marina Quinlan. Then we had Fethard AC making a very welcome return to competition winning the silver medals with their team of Edel Roche, Paula Hendriksen and Carol Molloy. The bronze medals were won by the Moyne AC team of Edel Delaney, Aisling Maher and Lisa Quinlan.
The men’s race was also very competitive with the early pace set by Louis Rice of Fethard and the eventual champion, Conor Flaherty of Clonmel AC. Over the six laps race these two moved well clear of the chasing pack in the early stages. Then midway through the race Flaherty increased the pace and made every stride a winning one as he came home a very worthy champion in 22 mins 3 secs. Flaherty was completing the Classic Novice double titles, having won the County Road title in Moyne last February. Then we had Louis Rice also running a brilliant race when capturing the individual silver medal. The bronze medal was won by Barry Hartnett of Dundrum AC.
In the team event, history was made as Fethard won their first County Club Novice Cross Country title under Athletics Ireland with their team of Louis Rice, Emmet McNamara, Fintan Rice and James Maher. The silver medals were won by the Dundrum quartet of Barry Hartnett, Darren Allison, Philly O’Dwyer and Colm Bradshaw. The host club team of William O’Donoghue, Ger Hanley, Kevin Patrick Lenihan and Michael Bailey won the bronze medals.
Intermediate Cross Country
Moyne hosts the County Intermediate women 5k and Men’s 8k Cross Country Championships next Sunday. Eligibility is that athletes must be 20 years and over on the 31st of December 2023.
We should have two very competitive races. In the women’s race all of last Sunday athletes are eligible and when you include such athletes as Mary Louise Ryan and Marie O’Shea of Mooreabbey Milers as well as Sharon Cantwell of Moyne to name just a few, we should have a great race.
In the team event, the defending champions are Clonmel, and they will be aiming to add this title to the Novice title won in Galbally last Sunday. They will be looking to Sarah Whelan, Sareen Walsh and Marina Quinlan to continue their winning ways. They will face good competition from Mooreabbey Milers, Moyne and the surprise packet Fethard.
In the Men’s race, we should also have a great race with Louis Rice & Emmet McNamara of Fethard and Barry Hartnett & Eamon Morrissey of Dundrum, Tom Blackburn of Mooreabbey Milers among the main contenders. The defending Club champions are Mooreabbey Milers, and they will be going all out to retain this coveted title. They will face tough competition from Fethard, Dundrum and Moycarkey/Coolcroo.