Tipperary Athletics Scene

The Tipperary Cross-Country season got under way in earnest in Galbally last Sunday with the Novice Championships down for decision.

Mooreabbey Milers AC had a very good course well laid out under the shadow of the Galtee Mountains, which provided a spectacular background view to the whole proceedings.

We witnessed two very good races. It was great to see fresh faces in both races and major credit to all the Clubs for encouraging these members to compete in Cross Country with some of them winning medals for their Clubs, for the first time. It augurs well for the future. We had athletes representing eleven 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.

Women

The women’s race over four laps of the 1km course, saw a group of athletes set the pace right from the whistle, which included the Moyne AC duo of Lisa Quinlan and Orla Healy along with Ruby Carroll of Clonmel AC and the Fethard AC duo of Carol Molloy and Tanya O’Brien. Then as they went out on the second lap the lead was shared by Carroll and Healy. These two athletes were still together as they approached the final lap and it was here that Orla took up the pace and opened a lead, which she held all the way to the line to be crowned county champion in 16 mins 53 secs. Orla has been competing in these Championships on many occasions and it was great to see her winning this title, she was third last year.

The tussle for the silver medal went down to the wire with Carol Molloy putting in a very strong challenge over the closing edges, only to be edged out of it by Ruby Carroll on the line Molloy winning the bronze. Incidentally, Ruby was second in last year’s race as well.

In the team race, Fethard AC won the gold medals for the first time with their team of Carol Molloy, Tanya O’Brien 4th & Paula Hendricksen 7th. The Clonmel AC team of Ruby Carroll, Sarah Whelan 6th & Lisa Byrne 11th won the silver medals. Moyne AC won the bronze medals with their team of Orla Healy, Lisa Quinlan 5th & Edel Delaney 18th.

Men

The men’s race over six laps was also very competitive. We had a group of five athletes setting the early pace and that group included Ross McCarthy of Clonmel AC, Mikey Bergin of Dundrum AC, Mark Corcoran of Nenagh Olympic along with the Thurles Crokes AC duo of Dylan McLaughlin and Alex Crowley.

For the next three laps this group still dictated the pace. Then going out on the second last lap, Mark Corcoran went to the front and increased the pace and soon everyone was in Indian file. Then midway through this lap, Alex Crowley went to the front and he was joined by McLaughlin and these two battled it out over the final lap with Dylan going clear close to the finishing line to win a great race in 22 mins 52 secs with Alex four seconds adrift in the silver medal position.

Then in the tussle for the bronze medal Mikey Bergin making his cross-country debut for his club came through to win the bronze medal.

Dundrum AC won the team gold medals with their team of Mikey Bergin, Albert Maher 7th, Shane White 13th & Padraig Coen 14th. It is great to see Dundrum AC winning this Cup for the first time since 2020 when winning it in Newport.

Thurles Crokes AC won the silver medals with their team of Dylan McLaughlin, Alex Crowley, Denis McCullough 10th & Peter Maher 27th. Fethard AC won the bronze medals with their team of James Maher 8th, Jack Spillane 15th, Fintan Rice 18th & Kevin Tobin 17th.

Juvenile

The U10 Girls race saw the honours went to Emily Hickey (Nenagh Olympic AC) in the individual race while also leading her club home to the team title.

Nenagh Olympic AC were once again on top of the podium in the U10 Boys race as Donie Cawley claimed gold individually and led Nenagh to another team title.

Poppy Shanahan Moyne AC stormed to victory in the U12 Girls race and in doing so, helped her club team claim a narrow two point victory over Nenagh Olympic AC. Dundrum AC claimed a spot on the top of the podium in the U12 Boys race as David Deburca was victorious after a great performance while a strong team performance from Carrick-on-Suir AC saw them take the team title.

Orlaith Frisby ensured that Carrick-on-Suir AC secured their second title of the day as she won the Girls U14 race while team glory went the way of Dundrum AC with all four runners inside the top seven finishers.

Michael Hynes had Nenagh Olympic AC back on top of the podium with victory in the U14 Boys race while Thurles Crokes AC combined well to bring home the team title.

Caoimhe Slevin (Moyne AC) powered her way home to clinch the Girls U16 title while Thurles Crokes AC, for the second time in succession, claimed the team title.

Albert Maher of Dundrum AC showed his class in the U16 Boys race as he claimed the title while Thurles Crokes AC once again dominated the team competition.

Maggie Anthony took home the Girls U18 title while Kate Delaney (Moyne AC) won the Junior Women's Race.

Donnacha Browne (Nenagh Olympic AC) was the victor in the U18 Boys race while Cormac Boylan claimed gold in the Junior Men’s competition in the final race of the day.

Intermediate Cross Country: The County Intermediate Cross Country Championships for both Women & Men takes place in Ardmayle next Sunday, hosted by Dualla Ballytarsna Boherlahan AC.

Eligibility is that athletes must be 20 years and older as of the 31st of December 2026. All athletes except previous individual winner of this or any higher championship are eligible. Also, any athlete from outside Ireland, who has not competed at senior level in Ireland, for at least one years is ineligible. The women’s race is 5000m with three athletes to score on a team. The men’s distance in 8000m with four athletes to count on a team.

The women’s race will get proceedings underway at 10am followed immediately by the men’s race. Spectators should see two great competitive races as everyone that ran in the County Novice races last Sunday are eligible and it will be interesting to see how athletes will fare over the longer distances.