For the second time during the 2025 Cross Country season, large crowds from across Munster flocked to the Turnpike in Twomileborris. This time it was for the Munster Uneven Age Cross Country Championships. With places for the National Championships up for grabs, every single race was hotly contested. 

In the first race of the day, Girls U9, Emily Hickey Nenagh Olympic AC was the first Tipperary athlete home in 16th place. This brilliant run saw her lead the Tipperary team to bronze medals in the Inter-county competition behind Clare and Cork. The team was made up of Emily Hickey, Evelyn Russell Moycarkey Coolcroo AC 22nd, Aoife Costigan Moyne AC 23rd , Julie Cantwell Moyne AC 26th, Mary Kate Devane Dundrum AC 27th and Sarah Egan Nenagh Olympic AC 32nd. Nenagh Olympic AC also finished 4th in the team competition only 5 points behind 3rd place. Tipperary’s first individual medal of the day came in the Boy’s U9 race through Conor Fahey Fethard AC as he finished in 11th place overall. The county team finished outside the medals in 4th place. The Girls U11 race was a very successful one for Tipperary individuals, club teams and county team. Poppy Shanahan Moyne AC ran a superb race to finish in 11th and secure herself an individual medal and a place at the National Championships. Emily Quinn Nenagh Olympic AC finished in an agonising 13th place just missing out an individual medal but thanks to her efforts along with her county teammates, they secured a bronze medal with the county team and will progress to the National Championships. The scoring members were Poppy Shanahan, Emily Quinn, Quinn Corbett Moyne AC 18th, Freya Schwanke Newport AC 20th, Aoibheann Doyle Moyne AC 24th and Laoise Prior Dualla Ballytarsna Boherlahan AC 27th. Moyne had three scoring members on this county team and their 4th athlete home was Kate O Dwyer in 29th place. This excellent team performance saw them finish 2nd in the Inter-club competition and qualify for the National Championships. Daniel Maher Templemore AC was the first Tipperary athlete across the line in the Boys U11 race in 21st place. This was a brilliant performance to back up his 5th place finish in the U10 race a few weeks ago. He also led the county team to a 5th place finish overall. Grace Butler Dundrum ACsecured her spot in the U13 Girls race at the National Championships as she finished 9th to also claim an individual medal. The county team finished in 5th place overall. U13 Boys County Champion Michael Hynes Nenagh Nenagh Olympic AC showed his class once again to finish in 5th place to claim an individual medal and a spot at Nationals. The county team packed well to finish in 3rd place and also qualify for Nationals. The scoring members were Michael Hynes, Liam Egan Fethard AC 16th, Matthew Edmond Moyne AC 25th, Luke Kavanagh Templemore AC 29th, Eoghan Slevin Templemore AC 30th and Philip Croke Dundrum AC 34th. The Girls U15 race practically saw a repeat of the performances of two Tipperary athletes from the Munster Even Age Championships. Neasa Moloney Mooreabbey Milers AC ran a strong race to finish in 10th place, just as she did a few weeks ago while Caoimhe Slevin Moyne AC improved her position by one place to finish 11th. Both Girls will go forward to compete at the National Championships. The county team finish in 4th place only 8 points behind Waterford in 3rd. Having agonisingly missed out on a medal at the Even Age Championships, Albert Maher Dundrum AC showed that he had put that disappointment behind him as he finish a brilliant 3rd in the U15 Boys race. He was closely followed home by Luke Duggan Templemore AC in 10th place. Both boys secured places at the National Championships while the county team finished 5th overall. Eadaoin Duffy was the best of the Tipperary athletes in the Girls U17 race in 16th place and she led the county team to a 4th place finish. Clonmel AC finished in 4th place and will advance to the National Championships. The team consisted of Eadaoin Duffy, Alice Megan 23rd, Hannah Murray 26th and Lily Casey 46th. Aaron Byrne Dualla Ballytarsna Boherlahan Ac was the first Tipp athlete home in the Boys U17 race in 40th position. Alana Spillane put in a great performance to finish in 5th place in the Girls U19 race against quality opposition. Diarmuid Moloney upgraded his silver a few weeks ago in the U20 to a gold in the U19 race. He was backed up by his club mate and U18 Champion Kevin Finn who finished in 3rd place in the U19 race. 

Well done to everyone who took part at the weekend and thanks to the landowners for hosting the event. Attention now turns to the County Juvenile Championships next weekend hosted by DBB AC. 

Tipperary Co. Board greatly appreciate the support of photographers Perri Williams and Dermot Hever who week in week out attending athletics events far and wide and do such a fantastic job  capturing the action and showcasing the strength and determination of our athletes. Thanks always for promoting athletics.