County road success in Tipperary for Dymphna Ryan and Emmet McNamara

The County 10 Mile Road Championships took place in Fethard, hosted by the local club.

Conditions were ideal as the race got underway at 9am from Dalton Pharmacy, with a very good entry of 88 athletes representing ten clubs.

Right from the start four athletes - Barry Hartnett Dundrum AC, Mossie Bracken Moycarkey Coolcroo, Dermot Gorman Carrick-on-Suir and the eventual champion Emmet McNamara, Fethard AC, set the pace.

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Over the closing kilometres, Emmet moved clear of the chasing pack and came home a very worthy and popular champion in 53 minutes 47 seconds. This was a fantastic performance by Emmet, who was winning this title for the very first time.

Dermot Gorman won the silver medal in 54 mins 7 secs, with Barry Hartnett winning the bronze medal in 55 mins 7 secs. Mossie Bracken was fourth (57.36), fifth was Tom O’Connell, Dundrum AC in 58.22 and sixth Conor Keating, Moycarkey Coolcroo AC in 60.18.

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In the team event the Fethard team of Emmet, James Maher, Fintan Rice and Paul Ryan won the gold medals. The Moycarkey Coolcroo team of Mossie, Conor, Sean Healy and Shane Mullaney won the silver medals. The Dundrum AC team of Barry, Tom, William Keane and John Donnelly won the bronze medals.

In the B section, open to clubs that enter more than one team, the Fethard AC team of Jack Spillane, James Denn and Neilie Hall won the gold medals. The silver medals were won by the Clonmel team of Larry Martin, Trevor Whelan and DJ Condon.

The bronze medals were won by the Moycarkey Coolcroo AC team of Liam Meaney, Paudie Guidera and Conor Moore.

These championships also incorporated a Masters event and the medallists were Over 35, first Tom O’Connell Dundrum AC, second Conor Keating, Moycarkey Coolcroo AC and third Padraig Brennan Clonmel AC. Over 40 first Michael Gleeson Templemore AC, second William Keane Dundrum AC and third Sean Healy Moycarkey Coolcroo AC.

Over 45 first Declan Ryan Thurles Crokes, second James Maher Fethard AC and third Keith Fraher Carrick-on-Suir AC. Over 50 first Peter Madden Templemore AC, second John Vahey Templemore AC and third Larry Martin Clonmel AC. Over 55 first Eugene O’Keeffe Carrick-on- Suir AC, second Vasiliy Neumerzhitskiy Clonmel AC.

Over 60 first Fintan Rice Fethard AC, second Willie O’ Donoghue Mooreabbey Milers AC and third Neilie Hall Fethard AC. Over 65 first Sam O’Meara Templemore AC, second Kevin McCartan Coolquill AC and third Matthew Fleming Fethard AC. First over 70 Ned O’Brien Clonmel AC.

Above: The first three women, from left, Louise Fogarty Moyne AC, silver; Dymphna Ryan, Dundrum AC, the winner and Sharon Cantwell, Moyne AC, third

The women’s race also attracted a very good entry. Here Dymphna Ryan Dundrum AC ran a great race to win the title very impressively in 62 mins 3 secs. Dymphna also showed a quick turn of pace on Saturday to win the National over 40 3,000 metres track title in Tullamore. Then we had Louise Fogarty of Moyne AC winning the silver medal in 66 mins 5 secs with her club mate Sharon Cantwell winning the bronze medal in 66 mins 29 secs.

Eileen McCullough of Moyne AC was fourth (66.37) with Linda Grogan Dundrum AC fifth (68.54) and Edel Roche Fethard AC sixth (69.55). In the team event, with three to score, Moyne AC were convincing winners with their team of Louise, Sharon and Eileen. The Dundrum team of Dymphna, Linda and Catherine Fogarty won the silver medals. The Clonmel AC team of Elaine Morrissey, Sareen Walsh and Sarah Whelan won the bronze medals.

In the B section the Clonmel team of Elaine Horgan, Aine Roche and Liz Lalor won the gold medals, and the Fethard team of Carol Molloy, Nicola Noonan and Deirdre Royce won the silver medals. The Fethard team of Isobel Minogue, Oonagh Burke and Lisa Williams won the bronze medals.

In the Masters Championships the medallists were Over 35 first Christina Hayes Moycarkey Coolcroo AC, second Tanya O’Brien Fethard AC and third Carol Molloy Fethard AC. Over 40, first Eileen McCullough Moyne AC, second Linda Grogan Dundrum AC and third Mary Louise Ryan Mooreabbey Milers AC.

Over 45 first Edel Roche Fethard AC, second Catherine Fogarty Dundrum AC and third Elaine Morrisey Clonmel AC. Over 50 first Sareen Walsh Clonmel AC, second Deirdre Royce Fethard AC and third Mary Hurley Fethard AC. Isobel Minogue Fethard AC was first over 55.

At the presentation of the awards County Chairman, Owen Fanning, thanked Fethard AC for promoting a very good event. He also thanked all the clubs for supporting these Championships. Overall, the County Road Championships season was a great success and he thanked all the athletes for competing.

Fethard are County Champions

The final event of the County Tipperary Road Championship season took place last Sunday in Fethard with the hosting of the County 10 Mile event. Based on all the performances at these road championships throughout the year, Fethard AC were worthy champions and they were presented with the Michael Cahill Perpetual Cup in Fethard last Sunday.