By Dara Kennedy

Last Sunday, October 12th, saw the Munster Cross Country Even Age Championships take place in the Turnpike, Twomileborris. There were large turnout across all the age groups with Tipperary athletes to the fore in many of them. 

In the first race of the day, Girls U10, Caoimhe Leamy Dualla Ballytarsna Boherlahan AC was the first Tipperary athlete home in 23rd place and led the Tipperary team to a 5th place finish. Fresh from his county title win last weekend, Daniel Maher Templemore AC backed up that performance to finish in 5th place and claim an individual provincial medal. Alongside this, Daniel and his county teammates claimed a bronze team medal in the intercounty competition. The team conisisted of Daniel Maher, Billy Horn Fethard AC 17th, Jim Cantwell Nenagh Olympic AC 20th, Adam Healy Newport AC 26th, Conor Fahey Fethard AC 40th and Robert Kelly Dundrum AC 44th. Annie Ely Moyne AC  was Tipperary’s first athlete across the line in the Girls U12 race in 15th place. The County team finished just outside the medals in 4th place. Tipperary were very much to the forefront of the Boys U12 race. Darragh Joyce Moyne AC and Dylan Noonan Fethard AC  finished 2nd and 7th respectively to claim individual medals and spots at the National Championships in Derry. To add to this success, they led the county team to 3rd place overall and secured a place at the National Championships. The team was made up of Darragh Joyce, Dylan Noonan, Philip Croke Dundrum AC 14th, Cian Long Thurles Crokes AC 20th, Billy Heaney Clonmel AC 29th and Kieran Girard Nenagh Olympic AC 32nd. U14 Girls County Champion, Orlaith Frisby Carrick-on-Suir AC, showed her class while finishing 10th overall to earn an individual medal and one of the sought-after National Championship spots. The Tipperary team were narrowly out of the medal in 4th place, only 7 points behind Waterford. Michael Hynes Nenagh Olympic AC matched the performance of Orlaith Frisby in the previous race by also finishing in 10th place in the Boys U14 race. This brilliant performance will see Michael travel to Derry and represent Munster at the National Championships. The county team performed well to finish in 5th overall. For the third race in a row, a Tipperary athlete finished in 10th position and this time it was the turn of Neasa Moloney Mooreabbey Milers AC in the Girls U16 race. Neasa was closely followed by Caoimhe Slevin of Moyne AC in 12th place. This ensured both of the girls will travel to Derry in search of National honours. The county team finished in 4th place overall. Albert Maher Dundrum AC was the best of the Tipperary athletes in the Boys U16 race where he just missed out on a medal in 13th position. He also led the the county team home to a 4th place finish. The U18 and Junior women’s race was ran together as they compete over the same distances. The first Tipperary athlete home was U20 Irish International Jennifer O’Leary Nenagh Olympic AC as she claimed a bronze medal. She was closely followed by Alana Spillane Moyne AC who was 6th in the U18 race and 9th overall. Tipperary claimed silver and bronze in the County team competition in these age groups. The teams were made up of Jennifer O’Leary U20, Alana Spillane, Emer Brennan Clonmel AC, Eadaoin Duffy Clonmel AC, Hannah Murray Clonmel AC, Alice Megan Clonmel AC and Bibi Russell Moyne AC U18. Clonmel AC also claimed silver and bronze in the club competition with the aforementioned girls making up their squads. Diarmuid Moloney Nenagh Olympic ACwas Tipperarys first athlete home in the Men’s U20 and U18 race as he claimed second overall. He was closely followed home by his club mate Kevin who finished 3rd overall and in doing so claimed the U18 title. Daire O’Donnell continued the Nenagh Olympic success as he finished in 5th place overall. These three lads along with Ruairi Walsh’s combined to finish 2nd in the club competition. 

Well done to everyone who participated on Sunday and thanks to the landowners for hosting the event. The next County event will take place on the 26th of October as we return to the Turnpike, Twomileborris for the County Uneven Age Championships.