County Athletic news by Niall O Sullivan County Senior PRO

The Munster Road Championships, incorporating Junior, Novice, Masters and Senior categories, took place last Sunday in good conditions in Ballinameela, County Waterford.

The women’s four-mile race got proceedings underway. It was great to see County athletes to the fore. Sharon Cantwell of Moyne AC produced a brilliant performance when finishing 4^th overall in 24 mins 33 secs and in the process, she was crowned Munster Novice Champion. Indeed, Moyne AC athletes were the dominant force in this event, with Louise Fogarty 5^th in 24.40, Eileen McCullagh 6^th in 24.49 and Orla Healy 9^th in 24.58. In the Novice category, there was a clean sweep of Moyne AC athletes on the podium with Louise Fogarty winning silver and Eileen McCullagh winning bronze medal. These four athletes dominated the awards winning both the Munster Inter Club Senior and Novice titles very convincingly. They also provided the County team that won the gold medals in both the Inter County Senior and Novice awards. Brilliant to see such a strong quartet performing so well on the provincial stage. There were other good performances from County athletes like Mary Keane Dundrum AC 22^nd (26.45), Kate Wall Clonmel AC 30^th (27.39), Sareen Walsh Clonmel AC 34^th (27.50), Aine Roche Clonmel AC 36^th (28.10), Sarah Whelan Clonmel AC 38^th (28.18), Lindsay Ryan Thurles Crokes 50^th (30.08), Martin Ryan Thurles Crokes 53^rd (31.03) and Regina Dorney Thurles Crokes 56^th (33.16). In the master categories, Eileen McCullagh was 1^st over 40, Mary Keane was 3^rd over 35, Sareen Walsh 3^rd over 50 and Martina Ryan 2^nd over 55. At Masters Inter County level, the over 35 team of Eileen McCullagh, Mary Keane, Kate Wall and Aine Roche won the bronze medals.

In the Men’s four mile race we also had some very good performances like Kevin Moore 6^th (20.14), William Hughes Thurles Crokes 11^th (20.26), Dermot Gorman Carrick on Suir 12^th (20.28), Conor Keating Moycarkey Coolcroo AC 25^th (21.16), Louis Rice Fethard AC 28^th (21.41), Liam Shanahan Thurles Crokes 43^rd (22.29), Patrick Davoren Clonmel AC 50^th (23.05), Denis McCullagh Thurles Crokes 51^st (23.11), Eugene O Keeffe Carrick on Suir 56^th (23.24), Matthew Ryan Moycarkey Coolcroo AC 61^st (23.39), Willie O Donoghue Mooreabbey Milers AC 62^nd (23.42), Fintan Rice Fethard AC 66^th (23.56), Ger Hanley Mooreabbey Milers 73^rd (24.30), Patrick Bowe Moyne AC 74^th (24.33), Paul Bowe Moycarkey Coolcroo AC 79^th (24.46), Jim Halley Dundrum AC 87^th(25.31), Darius Gazdowicz Mooreabbey Milers AC 88^th (25.33), Tom Blackburn Mooreabbey Milers 91^st (25.45), Eoghan Coughlan Carrick on Suir AC 92^nd (26.02), Paul Halloran Clonmel AC 94^th (26.10), Michael Moore Dundrum AC 97^th (26.18), Liam Meaney Moycarkey Coolcroo AC 102^nd (26.54), Vincent McHugh Clonmel AC 103^rd (27.16), Donal Ryan Clonmel AC 104^th (27.17), Jim St John Clonmel AC 116^th (28.31), Bernard Feery Clonmel AC 117^th (28.48), Paul Guidera Moycarkey Coolcroo AC 119^th (29.24), Kevin O Loughlin Carrick on Suir AC 131^st ( 37.37) and Myles McHugh Clonmel AC 42.55.

In the Awards, we had Dermot Gorman winning the over 40 gold medal, his club mate Eugene O Keeffe won gold over 55, Willie O Donoghue won gold over 60 with Fintan Rice winning silver over 60, Jim St John won silver over 65 and Myles McHugh won gold over 80. In the Senior Inter County event, the County team of Kevin Moore, William Hughes, Dermot Gorman, Conor Keating, Louis Rice and Liam Shanahan won bronze medals. In the Novice category the County team of Conor Keating, Louis Rice, Liam Shanahan, Denis McCullough, Eugene O Keeffe and Matthew Ryan won bronze medals. In the Inter County over 35 race, the county team of William Hughes, Dermot Gorman, Conor Keating, Liam Shanahan, Denis McCullagh and Paul Bowe won the bronze medals. The County over 50 team of Patrick Davoren, Eugene O Keeffe, Willie O Donoghue and Fintan Rice won the silver medals. On the Club front Mooreabbey Milers over 50 team of Willie O Donoghue, Gerard Hanley, Darius Gazdowicz and Tom Blackburn won silver medals.

County Novice Road Championships

Dualla is the venue for the County Novice Road Championships next Sunday. The County Board are delighted that Dualla Ballytarsna Boherlahan AC are hosting these Championships for the very first time. The women’s race starts at 12 noon followed immediately by the men’s race. The race headquarters is Dualla Community Centre Eircode E25 NX92. Competition should be very keen in both races.