County Athletic News by Niall O Sullivan County Senior PRO

Dundrum AC played host for the County Junior and Senior Road Championships last Sunday in summer like conditions. The Junior race over 3000m saw Clonmel AC winning the majority of the spoils with some great performances. In the women’s race Alice Meegan was pushed all the way by her sister Meabh and it was only in the final 50m did she get in front to win her first County Junior Road title in 12 mins 23 secs while Maebh can be very pleased with her performance when winning the silver medal in 12 mins 25 secs. Ruby Maher of the host club also ran very well when winning the bronze medal in 12 mins 48 secs. Clonmel won the team event with Alice, Meabh and Tara Moquet 4^th in 13 mins 4 secs. The men’s event was won by Harry Weymouth of Clonmel AC in 12 mins 10 secs.

In the Senior women, Dymphna Ryan of Dundrum AC was the warm favourite, and she set about her business right from the start. She set a strong pace that soon saw her draw clear of the chasing pack, that included the Moyne AC quartet of Louise Fogarty, Sharon Cantwell, Orla Healy and Eileen McCullagh as well as Michelle Ryan of Templemore AC. Dymphna maintained that strong pace to come home a very worthy and convincing winner in 17 mins 11 secs, some solo performance, to claim her sixth in a row County Senior Road title, some achievement. Then we had Louise Fogarty edging in front over the final mile to win the silver medal in 18.27 with Sharon Cantwell winning the bronze in 18.45. For the record Michelle Ryan of Templemore AC was 4^th in 19.02, Orla Healy Moyne AC 5th 19.04 and Eileen McCullagh Moyne AC 6^th 19.08. In the team event Moyne AC were resounding winners with their team of Louise, Sharon and Orla claiming the gold medals. The silver medals were won by Dundrum AC. Their team comprised Dymphna, Catherine Fogarty who finished 7th with a time of 19:57, and Mary Keane who finished 8th with a time of 19:59. Clonmel AC won the bronze medals with their team of Suzanne Shine 9^th 20.28, Sareen Walsh 11^th 21.00 and Aine Roche 14^th 21.35. The Walsh Meegan family will have plenty to celebrate. In the B Section Moyne AC also won the gold medals with their team of Eileen McCullagh 6^th 19.08, Lisa Quinlan 13^th 21.30 and Caroline Fogarty 19^th 22.50. The Dundrum AC trio of Karen Coughlan 10th won the silver medals 20.44, Emily Leahy 12^th 21.02 and Mairead Julian 18^th 22.33.

The Men’s race also attracted a very good entry of both quality and quantity. Here Mossy Bracken of Moycarkey Coolcroo AC, the defending Champion, made his intensions known right from the start of the two-lap race. He set a strong pace that soon saw him go clear of the chasing pack that included Matthew Ryan of Moycarkey Coolcroo, the County Novice and Intermediate Champion, Dermot Gorman of Carrick on Suir and Barry Hartnett of Dundrum AC. While Mossy made every stride a winning one when coming home a very worthy and convincing winner in 32 mins 6 secs the battle for the minor placings was a lot tighter. It was only over the final few kms that the picture became clearer with Matthew Ryan going for broke and he kept the pace going to win his first County Senior individual medal, silver, in 32 mins 43 secs. I have no doubt his recent County Novice and Intermediate wins has given him great confidence and he showed that on Sunday in Dundrum. Over the closing stages Barry went clear of Dermot to win the bronze medal in 33.21 with Dermot 4^th in 33.35. For the record Dylan Mclaughin Moyne AC was 5^th in 35.01 and Tom O Connell Dundrum AC 6^th in 35.06. In the team event, Moycarkey Coolcroo were out in force fielding thirteen athletes. They were rewarded as their team of Mossy, Matthew, Shane Minogue 7^th 35.28 and Conor Keating 8^th 35.29 were very convincing winners. They were winning this title for the very first time in recent years, a fantastic achievement and well done to everyone involved. Thurles Crokes were winners of the silver medals with their team of Liam Shanahan 9^th 35.23, Shane Moloney 11^th 36.25, Declan Ryan 12^th 36.33 and Denis McCullough 15^th 37.22. Clonmel AC won the bronze medals with Nigel O Flaherty 13^th 36.43, Joey Feery 14^th 37.17, Eelco Beckers 16^th 37.29 and Padraig Brennan 24^th 38.23. In the B Section Moycarkey Coolcroo AC won both the gold and silver team medals with their team of Shane Mullaney 36.14, Kevin Shortall 37.25 and Donie Bergin 39.43 and their team of Jamie Barry 40.47, Paul Bowe41.25 and John James King 41.43. Thurles Crokes won the bronze medals with their team of Peter Maher 38.29, Liam McCullagh43.25 and John Butler 44.40.

At the presentation of the awards County Chairman, Owen Fanning, thanked Dundrum AC for hosting these Championships. He also thanked the Clubs for their great support of these Championships.

County Masters Road Championships

Clerihan is the venue next Sunday for the County Masters Road championships for both men and women over thirty-five. The first race, at 12 noon, over 4k is for both Men and Women over sixty-five with three to score on a club team. Then the 6k road race for both Men and Women, age 35 to 64, will get underway after the 4k is over. The race headquarters is the Clerihan Community centre, and both races will finish outside this venue. Clonmel AC are hosting these Championship events.

The Michael Cahill Cup

This Cup is awarded to the best Adult Club in the County based on all the County Road Championships during the year. The current holders are Dundrum. With three championships already hosted this year, Dundrum are determined to retain this Cup, and they are currently leading on 325 points. Then we have Fethard 291points, Thurles Crokes 242 points, Clonmel 238 points, Moycarkey Coolcroo 235 points, Moyne 223 points, Mooreabbey Milers 64 points, Carrick on Suir 59 points, Nenagh Olympic 43 points, Templemore 29 points and Dualla Ballytarsna Boherlahan 14 points. Clonmel AC are hosting the County Masters Road Championships next Sunday and that could have a major bearing on the destination of the Cup as there are many categories where valuable points could be won in both the women and men’s races.