Emma Murray and Barry Hartnett win county cross country titles in Tipperary

Above: The first three women in the County Intermediate Cross Country Championships in Moyne were, from left, Orla Healy Moyne AC (second), Emma Murray Clonmel AC (the winner) and Mary Louise Ryan Mooreabbey Milers AC (third)

Moyne was the venue last Sunday for the County Intermediate Cross Country Championships.

Conditions were very good, firm underfoot on a dry, chilly day.

In the women’s 4k race Emma Murray of Clonmel AC made her intentions known right from the start. She pushed the pace by setting a strong tempo that soon had the rest of the athletes well strung out, with only Orla Healy of Moyne and Mary Louise Ryan of Mooreabbey Milers in close attention at the end of the first lap.

Throughout the rest of the race the pattern remained the same, with Emma dictating the pace at the front of affairs. She maintained that strong pace to come home a very worthy and convincing champion in 21 mins 57 secs.

This was a brilliant performance by Emma, whose training has been hampered over the past twelve months due to injury and it is great to such a talented athlete back running well again.

Then we had Orla Healy also running very well when winning the silver medal in 22 mins 14 secs. Mary Louise Ryan put in another great performance when winning the bronze medal in 22 mins 22 secs. Mary Keane of Dundrum was fourth in 23.44, Paula Hendriksen Fethard AC fifth in 24.44 and Noelle O’Brien Mooreabbey Milers sixth 24.58.

In the team competition the Mooreabbey Milers AC team of Mary Louise, Noelle O’Brien and Patricia Ryan, 12th in 26.21 won the gold medals. This team also made history as they are the first Mooreabbey Milers team to win this coveted title in the club history, so congrats to all involved.

The Fethard team of Paula Hendriksen, Carol Molloy 10th 26.03 and Marie Carroll 14th in 26.53 won the silver medals. The Thurles Crokes trio of Amanda Langley 9th in 25.28, Deniece Touhy 11th in 26.11 and Martina Ryan 13th in 26.42 won the bronze medals.

The Men’s race over 8k saw a group of four athletes set a strong pace with Conor Flaherty of Clonmel AC, the Fethard AC duo of Emmet McNamara and Louis Rice and the eventual champion, Barry Hartnett of Dundrum AC. Barry was at the front of affairs at the end of the first lap, with the rest in close attention.

As the laps rolled by Barry was still dictating the pace and gradually increased his lead. Barry maintained that strong pace to come home a very worthy and convincing champion in 28 mins 24 secs. This was a brilliant performance by Barry, as he was very determined to win this title, having finished second in the last two promotions of this event.

Above: The first three men in the County Intermediate Cross Country Championships in Moyne were, from left, Emmet McNamara Fethard AC (second), Barry Hartnett Dundrum AC (the winner) and Louis Rice Fethard AC (third)

The battle for the silver medal was decided over the later stages of the race, with Emmet winning the silver medal in 28 mins 33 secs and his club mate Louis winning the bronze medal in 29 mins 14 secs. Conor Flaherty (Clonmel AC) was fourth in 29.56, Cathal de Faoite (Clonmel AC) was fifth in 31.49 and Patrick Davoren (Clonmel AC) was sixth in 32.33.

In the team event Fethard were convincing winners with their team of Emmet, Louis, James Maher 8th in 33.25 and Fintan Rice 9th in 35.03. This Fethard team also made club history as they were winning this coveted title for the very first time under Athletics Ireland, congrats to all involved.

The silver medals were won by the Clonmel quartet of Conor Flaherty, Cathal de Faoite, Patrick Davoren and Michael McNamara 12th in 37.28. The bronze medals were won by the Dundrum AC team of Barry Hartnett, Pat Ryan 10th in 36.07, Richard Bresnan 11th 37.18 and Michael Moore 15th in 39.21.

Owen Fanning, County Chairman, thanked the joint landowners for the use of their lands and also complimented Moyne AC for hosting these championships.

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