County Tipperary Athletic Notes by Niall O Sullivan County Senior PRO

Clerihan was the venue last Sunday for the County Master Road championships. Held in ideal summer like weather, all the Clubs very well supported these races. Indeed, the entries were well up on last year and it was great to see that the majority of the age groups for both women and men were competitive.

In the Men’s over 65 3k race the early pace was set by Jim St John of Clonmel AC, Matt Alexander of Coolquill AC and Matthew Fleming of Fethard AC. Then on the return journey, the pace increased with Jim and Matt Alexander having a right tussle. It was only in the closing stages that Jim edged in front to hold off a fast-finishing Matt Alexander, brilliant running all round. Jim won the over 65 title in 12 mins 50 secs with Matt winning the over 70 title in 12 mins 53 secs. Then we had Matthew Fleming finishing 3^rd to win the over 65 silver medal in 13.18. Other awards were Kevin McCartan Coolquill AC 3^rd over 65 in 13.38. Leslie Smyth Coolquill AC 2^nd over 70 in 14.59. Noel Howley Clonmel AC 1^st over 75 in 15.42, Eddie Cahalan Coolquill AC 2^nd over 70 in 16.149 with Eamon Crowley Clonmel AC 3^rd over 75 in 22.08. Myles McHugh Clonmel AC won the over 80 gold medal in 19.23, some performances all round. In the team battle Coolquill AC won the gold meals with their team of Matt, Leslie and Eddie. The silver medals were won by the Clonmel AC team of Jim, Noel and Ned 9^th in 16.09.

The over 35 race over 6k saw both men and women going off together with a very good entry of ninety athletes, fantastic entry and great credit to all the Clubs for supporting these Championships. Here Emmet McNamara of Fethard AC set a strong pace that soon saw him go clear of the chasing pack. He made every stride a winning one to come home a very worthy and convincing over 35 champion in 18 mins 32 secs. Dermot Gorman of Carrick on Suir AC also ran very well when winning the over 40 title impressively in 19 mins 26 secs. The tussle for 3^rd place was an all Clonmel AC affair with Christopher Aylward 21.01 getting the better of Nigel O Flaherty 21.07, to win the over 35 silver medal while Nigel won the over 45 gold medal. The other award winners were: Peter Maher Thurles Crokes 3^rd 0/35 22.36, John Fitzgibbon Thurles Crokes 2^nd o/40 21.53, John Treacy Thurles Crokes 3^rd o/40 21.53, James Maher Fethard AC 2^nd o/45 21.24, Declan Ryan Thurles Crokes 3^rd o/45 21.28, Ger Hanley Mooreabbey Milers AC 1^st o/50 23.32, Darius Gazdowicz Mooreabbey Mielrs AC 2^nd o/50 24.05, Pat Morrissey Fethard AC 3^rd o/50 27.48,  Eugene O Keeffe Carrick on Suir AC 1^st o/50 22.03, Conor Fleming Clonmel AC 2^nd o/55 22.43, Jim Hally Dundrum AC 3^rd o/55 23.49, Fintan Rice Fethard AC 1^st o/60 22.20, Willie O Donoghue Mooreabbey Milers AC 2^nd o/60 22.59 and Pat Coffey Clonmel AC 3^rd o/60 26.15.

In the team competition Thurles Crokes won the over 35 gold medals with Clonmel AC winning the silver medals and Fethard Ac winning the bronze medals. In the over 50 team competition Mooreabbey Milers AC won the gold medals with Clonmel AC winning the silver medals and Fethard AC winning the bronze medals.

In the women over 35 race Eileen McCullough Moyne AC was a very convincing over 40 winner in 23.05 with Edel Roche Fethard AC winning the over 45 title in 24.11 and Mary Keane Dundrum AC winning the over 35 title in 24.20. The other award winners were: Suzanne Shine Clonmel AC 2^nd o/45 24.28, Karen Coughlan Dundrum AC 3^rd o/45 25.06, Emily Leahy Dundrum AC 2^nd o/40 25.06, Sareen Walsh Clonmel AC 1^st o/50 25.49, Lisa Quinlan Moyne AC 2^nd o/35 25.54, Barbara Ryan Fethard AC 3^rd o/40 26.00, Michelle Doherty Clonmel AC 2^nd o/50 26.50, Anne Marie Halpin Clonmel AC 3^rd o/50 27.19, Tanya O Brien Fethard AC 3^rd o/35 27.23, Denise Compton Dundrum AC 1^st o/55 27.28, Regina Dorney Thurles Crokes 2^nd o/55 30.09, Isobel Minogue Fethard AC 3^rd o/50 32.59 and Eleanor Walsh Fethard AC 1^st o/60 35.41. In the Team competition, Dundrum AC won the over 35 gold medals, Clonmel and Moyne tied on 21 points, but on countback Clonmel won the silver and Moyne won the bronze medals. Clonmel AC won the over 45 gold medals while Fethard AC won the silver and Thurles Crokes won the bronze medals.

Sunday 13th April 2025
2025 Tipperary County Masters Road Championships at Clerihan village.
Photo by Niall Moran. – Facebook – Niall Moran Photography