County Athletic news by Niall O Sullivan County Senior PRO

Fethard Athletic Club hosted the final event of the 2026 County Tipperary Road Championships with the promotion of the County 10 mile for both Men and Women. The County Board would like to thank Fethard AC for promoting a very well organised event.

Proceedings got under way at 9 am outside Daltons Pharmacy with over seventy athletes going to the starting line. Right from the start, the pace was set by Mossie Bracken Moycarkey Coolcroo AC and Pawel Hoc Clonmel AC with the chasing pack including the Moycarkey Coolcroo AC duo of Donie Bergin and Tom O Dwyer along with Eugene O Keeffe Carrick on Suir AC and James Maher of Fethard AC in close attention. As the race progressed Mossie moved into a commanding lead, which he held all the way to the line to win convincingly in 55 mins 38 secs. Mossie was winning his 4^th County 10 mile title having been successful in 2022, 2023 and 2024. We then had Pawel Hoc also running very well when winning the silver medal in 57 mins 35 secs. The tussle for the bronze medal was decided inside the last few kms with Tom O Dwyer going clear to finish 3^rd in 60 mins 41 secs. For the record, Donie Bergin Moycarkey Coolcroo AC was 4^th in 61 mins with Wayne Bargary Dundrum AC 5^th in 61 mins 51 secs and Padraig Brennan Clonmel AC 6^th in 62 mins 27 secs and winning the over 35 title in the process. The other category medal winners were as follows: Over 40, 1^st Ian Purcell Clonmel AC, 2^nd Paul Bradshaw Dundrum AC and 3^rd John Donnelly Dundrum AC. Over 45 1^st Wayne Bargary Dundrum AC, 2^nd Ian Martin Templemore AC and 3^rd James Maher Fethard AC. Over 50 1^st John Vahey Templemore AC, Ger Hanley Mooreabbey Milers AC and 3^rd Val Farrell Dundrum AC. Over 55 1^st Eugene O Keeffe Carrick on Suir AC, 2^nd Jim Hally Dundrum AC and 3^rd Vasiliy Neumerzhitskiy Clonmel AC. Over 60 1^st Tom Blackburn Mooreabbey Milers AC, 2^nd Neillie Hall Fethard AC and 3^rd John Laste Fethard AC. Over 65 1^st Sam O Meara Templemore AC. Over 70 1^st Matt Alexander Coolquill AC, 2^nd Ned O Brien Clonmel AC.

In the team competition, the Moycarkey Coolcroo team of Mossie Bracken, Tom O Dwyer, Donie Bergin and Kevin Shortall won the gold medals. The Clonmel AC team of Pawel Hoc, Padraig Brennan, Robert Speer, Ian Purcell won the silver medals. The Fethard AC team of James Maher, Eoin Ryan, Padraic Ryan and Kevin Tobin won the bronze medals.

In the B Section, for clubs that entered more than one team, the Clonmel AC team of Eoin McGrath, Larry Martin, Vasiliy Neumerzhitskiy won the gold medals. The Fethard AC team of Jack Spillane, Neillie Nall and Pat Morrissey won the silver medals. The Fethard AC team of John Hurley, John Laste and P J O Halloran won the bronze medals.

The women’s race was also competitive. Here the leading group of four Nikkie Kenneally Moycarkey Coolcroo AC, the Moyne AC duo of Eilen McCullough and Orla Healy and local favourite Laura Earley, the current County Intermediate Champion, set the pace. They were still in close proximity as they approached the eight-mile mark. Then over the closing few kms, Laura Earley using local knowledge to good advantage moved clear and came home a very worthy and convincing Champion in 65 mins 55 secs, to win her first County Senior title. We then had Eileen McCullagh winning the silver medal in 66 mins 48 secs with her clubmate Orla Healy winning the bronze medal in 67 mins 11 secs. For the record Nikkii Kenneally was 4^th in 68 mins 12 secs, Edel Roche was 5^th and 1^st over 45 in 69 mins 34 secs, Kate Kennedy Templemore AC was 6^th in 70 mins 47 secs and 2^nd over 45 silver. The age category winners were as follows: Over 35 1^st Tanya O Brien Fethard AC, 2^nd Lindsey Ryan Thurles Crokes AC and 3^rd Tara Power Fethard AC. Over 40 1^st Laura Burke Carey Thurles Crokes AC, 2^nd Aine Roche Fethard AC and 3^rd Michelle Stephens Thurles Crokes AC. Over 45 3^rd Emily Leahy Dundrum AC. Over 50 1^st Anne Marie Halpin Clonmel AC and 2^nd Aine Doocey Fethard AC.  Over 55 1^st Deirdre Royce Fethard AC, 2^nd Martina Ryan Thurles Crokes AC and 3^rd Siobhan Maher Fethard AC. Over 60 1^st Anna Byrne Clonmel AC and 1^st over 65 was Esme Alexander Coolquill AC.

In the team competition the Fethard AC team of Laura Earley, Edel Roche and Tanya O Brien won the gold medals. The Moyne AC team of Eileen McCullagh, Orla Healy and Edel Delaney won the silver medals. The Fethard AC team of Paula Hendricksen, Aine Roche and Deirdre Royne won the bronze medals. In the B Section the Fethard AC team of Aoife Horan, Aine Doocey and Siobhan Maher won the gold medals while their team of Lisa Williams, Teresa Coffey and Kitty Conry won the silver medals.

At the Presentation of the Awards Owen Fanning, County Chairman thanks Fethard AC for promoting a great event, He also thanked the Clubs for supporting these Championships and making this year’s road season one of the most successful to date.

The Michael Cahill Perpetual Cup

This Cup is awarded to the best overall Club incorporating all the County Road Championships in 2026. The Fethard Athletic Club once again proved very convincing winners and thus retained this Cup for another twelve months. The Cup was presented by the County Chairman to the Fethard AC members after the County 10 Mile Championship race last Sunday in Fethard.