County Athletic news by Niall O Sullivan County Senior PRO

All roads led to Dualla community centre last Sunday for the County Tipperary Novice Road championships with the women competing over 4k and the men over 6k. Both races were on an out and back course. The Clubs are to be complimented on getting their members out competing with forty-one competing in the women’s race and seventy-four competing in the men’s race, brilliant entries. Conditions were ideal for both races with summer like weather the order of the day. The routes were relatively flat with a good incline meeting the athletes on their return to the village where they finished the last 300m on the Community walkway.

The women’s race got underway shortly after noon. Right from the start Orla Healy of Moyne AC and Laura Earley of Fethard AC set the pace. As they approached halfway Orla increased the pace and soon went clear with Laura in 2^nd place while the chasing pack was led by Edel Roche of Fethard AC and Mary Keane of Dundrum AC. Orla made every stride on the return journey a winning one when coming home to a very convincing winner in 11 mins 2 secs. This was a brilliant performance by Orla who was 2^nd in this event last year and no doubt she was very determined to go one better, which she did in style. Then we had Laura Earley also running very well and like Orla she improved on her bronze medal last year when winning the silver this year in 11 mins 32 secs. The tussle for the bronze medal was decided on the homeward trip with Edel Roche finishing 3^rd in 11 mins 43 secs. For the record Mary Keane of Dundrum was 4^th 11.50, Catherine Fogarty Dundrum AC was 5^th 12.05 and Paula Hendriksen of Fethard AC 6^th in 12.14. With three to count on the inter club front, Fethard were winners on eleven points with Laura Earley, Edel Roche and Paula Hendriksen. Dundrum won the silver medals with Mary Keane, Catherine Fogarty and Emily Leahy who was 7^th 12.17. Moyne AC fresh from their exploits on the Munster scene won the bronze medals with their team of Orla Healy, Edel Delaney 10^th 12.52 and Lisa Quinlan 12^th 13.02. For the record Fethard AC were winning this title for the very first time in recent years, great credit to all involved.

The Men’s race also saw a fast pace from the start with the early pace set by Jamie Moloney of Nenagh Olympic and the eventual Champion Matthew Ryan of Moycarkey Coolcroo AC. It was on the homeward run that Matthew made his move and soon opened up a commanding lead, a lead he held all the way to the line to win convincingly in 19 mins 23 secs. This was a brilliant performance by Matthew who has been putting in good performances recently. Jamie also ran very well to win the silver medal in 20 mins 3 secs. The bronze medal was won by Conor Keating who made his move inside the last 2k in 20 mins 34 secs. For the record Mark Corcoran Nenagh Olympic AC was 4^th 20.50, Liam Shanahan Thurles Crokes was 5^th in 20.59 with Christopher Aylward Clonmel AC 6^th in 21.20. In the team event, Clonmel packed very well with Christopher Aylward, Patrick Davoren 7th 21.34, Nigel O Flaherty 8^th 24.41 and Joey Feery 14^th 22.03 to win the gold medals. The silver medals were won by the Thurles Crokes quartet of Liam, Denis McCullagh 9^th 21.45, Shane Moloney 15^th 22.10 and making a welcome return to competitive we had John Russell 16^th 22.13. Moycarkey Coolcroo AC won the bronze medals with their team of Matthew Ryan, Conor Keating, Paul Bowe 31^st 23.33 and Donie Bergin 36^th 23.54. Clonmel were regaining this title for the first time since 2021.

At the presentation of the awards, the County Chairman, Owen Fanning, thanks Dualla Ballytarsna Boherlahan AC for organising a very successful promotion of the Sport. He thanked the Clubs for supporting these Championships and it augurs well for the rest of the road season.