County Tipperary Athletic Notes by Niall O Sullivan County Senior PRO

Moyne was the venue last Sunday for the County Senior Women’s 6k and Men’s 10K Cross Country Championships. Despite the recent bad weather, great credit to Moyne AC and the landowners for having a good cross country ready for the blue-ribbon events of the County Cross Country season.

The women’s race attracted a very good entry. Right from the start Dymphna Ryan of Dundrum AC made her intentions known as she set a strong pace to take the lead on the first of the four-lap race. The chasing pack included the Moyne duo of Eileen McCullagh and Sharon Cantwell. Dymphna made every stride a winning one as she came home a very worthy and convincing Champion in 26 mins 6 secs. This performance was rounding off what has been a very successful cross-country season for her in 2025. Dymphna was winning her eight County title, winning her first in Dundrum in 2010, fantastic achievement. Then we had great performances also from Eileen McCullagh winning the silver medal in 28 mins 19 secs and Sharon Cantwell winning the bronze medal in 28 mins 37 secs. For the record Catherine Fogarty Dundrum AC was 4^th in 29.20, Louise Fogarty Moyne AC 5^th in 29.42 and Mary Louise Ryan Mooreabbey Milers 5^th in 30.01. With three athletes to score on the club team, Moyne were resounding winners on a score of 10 points. Thus, winning the Sureprint Cup for the 2^nd time in their history, following on from their initial success in Galbally in 2016, delighted for everyone involved. The Dundrum AC team of Dymphna Ryan, Catherine Fogarty and Karen Coughlan 8^th (30.18) won the silver medals. The Clonmel AC team of Suzanne Shine 9^th (30.230, Sareen Walsh 12^TH (31.51) and Sarah Whelan 13^th (32.06) won the bronze medals.

The men’s race was also competitive. Here the initial charge saw the lead dictated by three athletes, each representing a different club. That trio included Stuart Moloney Mooreabbey Milers, Dermot Gorman Carrick on Suir and the eventual Champion Emmet McNamara Fethard AC. The chasing pack included Aidan Flannery Clonmel AC, Denis McCullagh Thurles Crokes and the Dundrum duo of Eamon Morrisey and Tom O’Connell. Up front the pace was strong as the three athletes were still in contention midway through the six-lap race. Then just after halfway Emmet upped the pace that saw him gradually open a gap on Stuart and Dermot. Once in the lead Emmet kept the tempo going to come home a very worthy and convincing Champion in 39 mins 53 secs. Brilliant running by Emmet who was winning his first County Senior title over the country. The battle for the silver medal was decided inside the last lap with Dermot going clear to finish 2^nd in 40 mins 16 secs and Stuart winning the bronze in 40 mins 29 secs, great performances all round. For the record Aidan Flannery Clonmel AC was 4^th (43.25), 5^th Tom O’Connell Dundrum AC 5^th (44.15) and Eamon Morrissey Dundrum AC 6^th (45.19). With four to score on the Club teams it was very close between Dundrum AC and Mooreabbey Milers AC in the early stages of the race. Over the closing stages Dundrum AC moved clear to win the gold medals on 32 points. Their winning team consisted of Tom O’Connell, Eamon Morrissey, Martin Keane 8^th (45.42) and Paudie Coen 13^th (47.24). Dundrum AC were winning back the Moore Cup after a gap of six years, winning it in Galbally in 2019. The silver medals were won by the Mooreabbey Milers team of Stuart Moloney, Tom Blackburn 9^th (46.14), Sean Landers 10^th (46.37) and Ger Hanley 16^th (46.25). The bronze medals were won by the Clonmel AC team of Aidan Flannery, Trevor Whelan 12^th (46.55), Conor Fleming 14^th (47.37) and Peter Corkery 17^th (47.57). We had a B Section here for Clubs who fielded teams in the A Section. Here the Dundrum team of Shane White, Jim Halley and Michael Ryan won the gold medals. The silver medals were won by the Mooreabbey Milers team of Kevin Patrick Lenihan, Liam Lewis and Willie O Donoghue.

At the presentation of the awards, Count Chairman, Owen Fanning thanked Moyne AC for providing a great course for the events. He also thanked the Clubs for supporting these Championships and he wished Athletes, Officials, Coaches and Parents the very best for Christmas and the New Year.