Tipperary County Athletics News

The first day of the County Juvenile Even Age Cross Country Championships got off to a cracking start at Longford Pass, Gortnahoe last Sunday. Our thanks to the host club, Moyne A.C. who provided a great venue amid blue skies, sunshine & dry conditions underfoot (long may it last!). Everything ran super smooth thanks to the trojan work of Mary Doyle & her merry band of helpers and the great organisation of the Moyne club who thought of & provided every possible amenity that was required on the day. It was also great to see our most newly formed club, Rosegreen A.C. participating for the first time on the County circuit. We wish you all the very best of luck & hope you have many happy years of athletics ahead.

First race of the day was the Girls U/10 600m where Clodagh Kinnane of Templemore led off the race followed closely by the Nenagh Olympic trio of Olivia Moylan, Margaret Quigley & Alannah Deering. Nenagh finished 1^st (Olivia Moylan), 2^nd (Margaret Quigley) & 4^th (Alannah Deering) with Clodagh Kinnane’s green Templemore singlet & her 3^rd place finish breaking up the orange & black of Nenagh Olympic. The Boys U/10 600m race provided a thrilling finish when Jack Fallon from Moycarkey Coolcroo was challenged by Conor Murphy of Clonmel 100 metres from the finish. Jack Fallon who led the race all the way fought back hard & was not to be beaten, retaining his County Championships crown for another year. He was followed closely home by his Moycarkey Coolcroo team-mates David Ryan in 3^rd & James Dillon in 4^th position. In the Girls U/12 1000m Leah Farnan, Nenagh Olympic was a clear winner with Ciardha Maher, Nenagh Olympic withstanding a late charge from Karen Kennedy, Thurles Crokes to finish in 2^nd place. The Thurles Crokes duo of Karen Kennedy & Sarah McEvvitte finished 3^rd & 4th. In the Boys U/12 Richard O’Donaghue of Nenagh Olympic fought off a late challenge from Seosamh Ryan of Thurles Crokes to win the 1000m race with Michael Purcell of Thurles Crokes finishing in 3^rd place. In the Girls U/14 1200m race, Ciara Cummins of Moyne was a clear & impressive winner with Aoife Delargy of Templemore in 2^nd place & Orlaith Moynihan of Clonmel just getting in ahead of Orla Deering, Nenagh Olympic for 3^rd place. Nenagh Olympic managed a 1, 2, 3, in the Boys U/14 1500m with Liam Finn leading the race from start to finish followed closely by team-mates Niall McIntyre & Con Whelan. The Girls U/16 2000m started off with a sea of Thurles Crokes singlets to the front. The end result was Eimer Kennedy finishing 1^st, Catriona Hayes, Moycarkey Coolcroo in 2^nd place & Claire Lawless & Adie Bourke, Thurles Crokes in 3^rd & 4^th place.

In the Boys U/16, Sean Tobin, Clonmel won the 3000m race in style with Edward Hynes of Templemore in 2^nd place & Reece Maher of Clonmel in 3^rd. Cliona Doyle was an impressive winner of the Girls U/18 3000m with Sarah Berkery of Newport in 2^nd place & Emma Carey of Thurles Crokes in 3^rd place. The Boys U/18 5000m was won by Alan Ryan of Tipp Town with Brian Looram, Clonmel in 2^nd place & Richard Fogarty of Moyne in 3^rd place. Congratulations & well done to all the athletes who took part on the day. We look forward to seeing you all again next Sunday for the Juvenile Uneven Age Cross Country Championships in the Middlepiece, Two Mile Borris.

By Aisling Hoey

County Juvenile PRO