Limerick athletes dominate in Coillte 10k Dundrum

The Coillte 10k in Dundrum on Wednesday 7^th of July reached its silver jubilee in style when a record entry of 230 athletes went to the start line. Limerick athletes were in the prizes in most categories.

Local man Paddy Hennessey whose house the race starts outside blew the whistle to send the athletes on their way. The early stages of the two lap race the leaders stayed together until before they came back into the village to go out on the second lap. Irish International and many times National senior cross country champion Seamus Power from the Kilmurray Ibrickane club in the county Clare had then stamped his class on the race by going well clear of the field. In the ladies section Borrisokane Siobhan O’Doherty the three times winner of this race was out in front and chasing the course record time.

Out on the second lap Seamus continued to power along to come home for a super victory in a time of 31:22. Next were two of the many Limerick athletes who graced the event on the night Martin Doody and Michael Carmody from Limerick A.C. They were followed by James McIntyre from the Finn Valley club in Donegal with Michael Shanahan from Kilnaboy in 5^th position. Then we had a great battle to be the first Tipperary athlete home between Shane Mullaney Thurles Crokes and Danny Smyth Ballynonty. The Ballynonty man hauling in early    pacesetter Shane to race clear to be the first Premier man home. Danny becoming the first winner of the Tim Crowe memorial trophy. Which was presented to Danny by Dominic Moore who gave the trophy to the club at a recent function in Hayes Hotel Thurles.

Siobhan O’Doherty pushed the pace all the way out the second lap to come home for a magnificent victory in a time of 34:43. Siobhan’s great effort just leaving her 15 seconds outside the course record. In second place was run any distance from 5k to marathon Angela McCann Clonmel who opted for the harder senior section. The two Tipp Lassies were followed home by Tracy Roche Doneen and Emer Power Sportsworld.

In the master men’s section Bilboa athletes made the short trip to Dundrum with great success, taking three of the five winners prizes on offer they been Tom Blackburn over 40, Michael Cunningham over 45 and Joe Aherne over 50. Billy Tynan made the long trip from Wicklow to hold off local man Gerry Ralph for 1^st over 50. While Clonmels Joe Grinsell ensured one winners prize stayed in the county with a first in the over 60.

The master Ladies had the only course record broken on the night. This was done by Thurles Crokes Mary Moloney who raced to a great victory in the over 45 section to set a new course record of 43:37.Wins in the other categories went outside the county Loretta Duggan St. Marys 1^st over 35, Deirdre Finn Ballina 1^st over 40 and Bernie Kelly made the trip from Galway to win the over 50 category.

The junior 5k had a classy winner in Eric McCann Clonliffe Harriers who raced away for a super win in 16:35 in the mens section. Declan Moore another Bilboa athlete took second with Richard Fogarty Moyne a good third. The womens section had a good run from Frankie Nesilky Templemore for victory in 21:01 with Fiona Holmes Bilboa second and Thurles Crokes Nicola Loughnane third.

RESULT SHEET

Senior Men 1^st Seamus Power Kilmurray Ibrickane 31:22  2^nd Martin Doody Limerick A.C 32:14  3^RD Michael Carmody Limerick A.C 32:42  4^TH James McIntyre Finn Valley 32:52  5^th Michael Shanahan Kilnaboy A.C 33:18  6^th Danny Smyth Ballynonty 33:36  7^th Shane Mullaney Thurles Crokes 33:59  8^th Adrian Linehan Duhallow A.C 34:30 O/40 Men 1^st Tom Blackburn Bilboa 34:38  2^nd Keith Ryan Limerick 35:23  3^rd Niall O’Ceallaigh Clonmel 37:05 O/45 Men 1^st Michael Conningham Bilboa 34:55  2nd James Ryan Dundrum 35:18 3^rd Pat Heffernan Fethard 36:34 O/50 Men 1^st Billy Tyrell Wicklow 38:38 2^nd Gerry Ralph Dundrum 41:40 3^rd Brian O’Reilly Laragh 41:42 0/55 Men 1^st Joe Aherne Bilboa A.C 40:31 O/60 Men 1^st Joe Grinsell Clonmel 47:22 Junior Men 5k 1^st Eric McCann Clonliffe Harritrs 16:35 2^nd Declan Moore Bilboa 18:15 3^rd Richard Fogarty Moyne 19:11       

Senior Women 1^st Siobhan O’Doherty Borrisokane 34:43  2^nd Angela McCann Clonmel 37:17  3^rd Tracy Roche Doneen 37:37  4^th Emer Power Sportsworld 38:56 0/35 Women 1^st Loretta Duggan St. Marys 43:00  2^nd Nora Kennedy Thurles 43:38 O/40 Women 1^st Deirdre Finn Ballina 42:40  2^nd Martina Ryan Thurles Crokes 43:30 O/45 Women 1^st Mary Moloney Thurles Crokes 43:37 (record)  2^ND Ann Cronin Carrick on Suir 49:35 O/50 Women 1^st Bernie Kelly Galway City Harriers  44:42 Junior Women 5k 1^st Frankie Nesilky Templemore 21:01  2^nd Fiona Holmes Bilboa 21:40  3^rd Nicola Loughnane  Thurles Crokes  24:02

Report By  Kevin Moore Dundrum A.C.