Tipperary Athletics Scene

The County Intermediate Cross Country Championships were held in Ardmayle last Sunday.

Conditions were very good for cross country and major credit must go to Dualla Ballytarsna Boherlahan Athletic Club for a well laid out course. Thanks also to the Hickey family for the use of their lands, greatly appreciated by everyone.

Women

The women’s 5k race got proceedings underway and soon a group of five athletes set the pace, Lisa Quinlan of Moyne AC, Mary Louise Ryan Mooreabbey Milers AC, Karen Coughlan of Dundrum AC and the two Fethard AC athletes Carol Molloy and Tanya O’Brien as they passed the finishing line with 4k to go. Then midway through this lap the pace increased and soon Molloy had moved clear with Ryan in close attention while the bronze medal position was between Clotilde Fruscini and Paula Hendricksen. Carol Molloy maintained the strong tempo and came home a very worthy champion in 21 mins 30 secs. This was a brilliant performance by Carol who was third in the County Novice last week.

Mary Louise Ryan also ran a brilliant race when winning the silver medal. The battle for the bronze medal was decided inside the final 50 metres with Fethard’s Paula Hendricksen edging out clubmate Fruscini.

In the team event, Fethard were very convincing winners with their three scorers inside the top 4. The Dundrum team of Mary Keane 6th, Karen Coughlan 7th & Laura McCarthy Armstrong 14th won the silver medals. The Mooreabbey Milers team of Mary Louise Ryan 2nd, Noelle O’Brien 9th & Martina Moloney 11th won the bronze medals.

Men

The men’s race over four laps was also competitive. Here a group of four athletes set the early pace and they included the two Thurles Crokes athletes Dylan Mclaughlin and Alex Crowley along with Mark Corcoran (Nenagh Olympic) and Louis Rice (Fethard AC). Then midway through the race Alex and Louis shared the lead with a battle for the bronze medals between Dylan and Mark. It was all to run for as the athlete went out on the final lap. Then over the final mile Louis Rice went clear and made every stride a winning one to come home a very convincing winner in 29 mins 48 secs.

Alex Crowley also ran very well to win the silver medal, to add to the silver medal he won at the County Novice. Mark Corcoran moved clear on the final lap to win the bronze medal.

In the team event, the Thurles Crokes team of Alex Crowley 2nd, Dylan Mclaughlin 5th, Denis McCullough 9th & John Treacy 10th won the gold medals. The Dundrum team of Tom O’Connell 4th, Albert Maher 6th, Shane White 11th & Paudie Coen 13th won the silver medals. The Fethard AC team of Louis Rice 1st, James Maher 7th, Fintan Rice 12th & Kevin Tobin 17th won the bronze medals.

It definitely was Fethard Athletic Club Day in Ardmayle last Sunday. To crown off a special day in the Club’s history, County Vice Chairperson Fintan Rice had the honour of presenting Carol Molloy with her gold medal and then he had the wonderful honour of presenting his son, Louis, with his gold medal.

Juvenile

There was strong representation across the age groups, with individual performances and team results highlighting the depth of juvenile cross country running in Tipperary.

In the U9 Girls, Nell Corbett of Moyne AC claimed the individual title, while Nenagh Olympic AC secured the team honours. Oran Walsh of Nenagh Olympic AC won the U9 Boys race, with Fethard AC taking the team title.

The U11 Girls race was won by Moya Kilcline of Nenagh Olympic AC, who also helped her club secure the team competition. Jim Cantwell, also of Nenagh Olympic AC, won the U11 Boys individual race, while Carrick-on-Suir AC came away with the team title.

Poppy Shanahan of Moyne AC produced a winning performance in the U13 Girls race and helped Moyne claim the team title. In the U13 Boys race, Philip Croke of Dundrum AC finished first individually, while Thurles Crokes AC took the team honours.

The U15 Girls title went to Orlaith Frisby of Carrick-on-Suir AC, with Thurles Crokes AC winning the team competition. Brendan Judge won the U15 Boys race for Thurles Crokes AC, who also secured the team title.

In the older age groups, Neasa Moloney of Mooreabbey Milers AC won the U17 Girls race, while Albert Maher of Dundrum AC was victorious in the U17 Boys competition.

The U19 Girls race saw Alice Meegan, Eadaoin Duffy and Hannah Murray of Clonmel AC finish in the first three places, giving Clonmel a clean sweep of the individual podium. Cormac Boylan of Thurles Crokes AC won the U19 Boys race.

Focus turns to the National Juvenile Cross Country Relays next weekend.