County Athletic news by Niall O Sullivan County Senior PRO

The County 10 Mile Road Championships took place last Sunday in Fethard, hosted by the local club. Conditions were ideal as the race got underway at 9am from Dalton Pharmacy with a very good entry of eighty-eight athletes representing ten clubs. Right from the start four athletes, Barry Hartnett Dundrum AC, Mossy Bracken Moycarkey Coolcroo, Dermot Gorman Carrick on Suir and the eventual Champion Emmet McNamara Fethard AC set the pace. Over the closing kms, Emmet moved clear of the chasing pack and came home a very worthy and popular Champion in 53 mins 47 secs. This was a fantastic performance by Emmet who was winning this title for the very first time. Then we had Dermot Gorman winning the silver medal in 54 mins 7 secs with Barry Hartnett winning the bronze medal in 55 mins 7 secs. For the record Mossy Bracken was 4^th (57.36), 5^th Tom O Connell, Dundrum AC in 58.22 and 6^th Conor Keating, Moycarkey Coolcroo AC in 60.18.

In the team event the Fethard team of Emmet, James Maher, Fintan Rice and Paul Ryan won the gold medals. The Moycarkey Coolcroo team of Mossy, Conor, Sean Healy and Shane Mullaney won the silver medals. The Dundrum AC team of Barry, Tom, William Keane and John Donnelly won the bronze medals. In the B section, open to clubs that enter more than one team. Here the Fethard AC team of Jack Spillane, James Denn and Neilie Hall won the gold medals. The silver medals were won by the Clonmel team of Larry Martin, Trevor Whelan and DJ Condon. The bronze medals were won by the Moycarkey Coolcroo AC team of Liam Meaney, Paudie Guidera and Conor Moore.

These Championships also incorporated a Master event and here are the medalists: Over 35 – 1^st Tom O Connell Dundrum AC, 2^nd Conor Keating Moycarkey Coolcroo AC and 3^rd Padraig Brennan Clonmel AC. Over 40 1^st Michael Gleeson Templemore AC, 2^nd William Keane Dundrum AC and 3^rd Sean Healy Moycarkey Coolcroo AC. Over 45 1^st Declan Ryan Thurles Crokes, 2^nd James Maher Fethard AC and 3^rd Keith Fraher Carrick on Suir AC. Over 50 1^st Peter Madden Templemore AC, 2^nd John Vahey Templemore AC and 3^rd Larry Martin Clonmel AC. Over 55 1^st Eugene O Keeffe Carrick on Suir AC, 2^nd Vasiliy Neumerzhitskiy Clonmel AC. Over 60 1^st Fintan Rice Fethard AC, 2^nd Willie O Donoghue Mooreabbey Milers AC and 3^rd Neilie Hall Fethard AC. Over 65 1^st Sam O Meara Templemore AC, 2^nd Kevin McCartan Coolquill AC and 3^rd Matthew Fleming Fethard AC. 1^st over 70 Ned O Brien Clonmel AC.

The women’s race also attracted a very good entry. Here we had Dymphna Ryan Dundrum AC running a great race to win the title very impressively in 62 mins 3 secs. Dymphna showed a quick turn of pace on Saturday to win the National over 40 3000m track title in Tullamore. Then we had Louise Fogarty of Moyne AC winning the silver medal in 66 mins 5 secs with her club mate Sharon Cantwell winning the bronze medal in 66 mins 29 secs. For the record Eileen McCullagh of Moyne AC was 4^th (66.37) with Linda Grogan Dundrum AC 5th (68.54) and Edel Roche Fethard AC 6^th (69.55). In the team event with three to score, Moyne AC were convincing winners with their team of Louise, Sharon and Eileen. The Dundrum team of Dymphna, Linda and Catherine Fogarty won the silver medals. The Clonmel AC team of Elaine Morrissey, Sareen Walsh and Sarah Whelan won the bronze medals. In the B Section the Clonmel team of Elaine Horgan, Aine Roche and Liz Lalor won the gold medals, the Fethard team of Carol Molloy, Nicola Noonan and Deirdre Royce won the silver medals. The Fethard team of Isobel Minogue, Oonagh Burke and Lisa Williams won the bronze medals.

In the Master Championships the medallists were: Over 35- 1^st Christina Hayes Moycarkey Coolcroo AC, 2^nd Tanya O Brien Fethard AC and 3^rd Carol Molloy Fethard AC. Over 40 1^st Eileen McCullagh Moyne Ac, 2^nd Linda Grogan Dundrum AC and 3^rd Mary Louise Ryan Mooreabbey Milers AC. Over 45 1^st Edel Roche Fethard AC, 2^nd Catherine Fogarty Dundrum AC and 3^rd Elaine Morrisey Clonmel AC. Over 50 1^st Sareen Walsh Clonmel AC, 2^nd Deirdre Royce Fethard AC and 3^rd Mary Hurley Fethard AC. Isobel Monigue Fethard AC was 1^st over 55.

At the presentation of the Awards, County Chairman Owen Fanning, thanked Fethard AC for promoting a very good event. He also thanked all the Clubs for supporting these Championships. Indeed, overall, the County Road Championships season was a great success and he thanked all the athletes for competing in these Championships.

Fethard are County Champions

The County Tipperary Road Championship season final event took place last Sunday in Fethard with the hosting of the County 10 Mile event. Based on all the performances at these Road Championships throughout the year, Fethard AC were worthy Champions and they were presented with the Michael Cahill Perpetual Cup in Fethard last Sunday.