Tipperary Athletics: Fethard crown superb season at senior cross country championships

The County Senior Cross Country Championship was held at Deansgrove, Cashel on Sunday last.

The Women's race started at 11am with the men following.

The lap was a 2k loop, with women running three laps and men five laps.

Fethard AC has had a fantastic resurgence in 2023 and particularly through this cross country season, and no better way to sign off the year than to proudly field two teams at the county senior event.

For our women’s team of Paula Hendriksen, Carol Molloy and Marie Carroll it was always going to be a very tall order for our successful novice ladies to challenge the strong senior field. Nevertheless all three acquitted themselves with distinction throughout this tough endurance test.

Fethard AC: From left to right - Paula Hendriksen, Carol Molloy and Marie Carroll

We went into these championships with great optimism and with very good reason, having had such great success at all levels across county, provincial and national events.

On Sunday last we sent Emmet McNamara, Jack Spillane, Joe Morgan, Fintan and Louis Rice to represent us at the county’s flagship event and they didn’t disappoint.

Stuart Moloney of Mooreabbey Milers dictated affairs from the onset of the race, setting a strong pace and gaining an unassailable lead. Behind him was a group of Mossy Bracken, Moycarkey Coolcroo, Barry Hartnett Dundrum and our own Louis Rice and Emmet McNamara.

This group were to battle it out for the silver and bronze medals and as the race unfolded the endurance strength of the Fethard lads prevailed as they managed to get a gap on the group in the latter stages to bring home both medals.

They were now looking back the field for their teammates to see if a senior team medal could be secured. Masters athlete Fintan Rice, never found wanting in any race challenge, came home strongly in 14th place and he was soon followed by Jack Spillane, making his debut at this level for the club in 29th position.

These four club mates combined to win the county senior silver medals.

We also had another terrific debut performance from Joseph Morgan, who finished in 37th position.

Congratulations to the athletes and to their coach John Laste. They have all put in such great effort and commitment in training over the past few months. We are now looking forward to building on this as we go into 2024.

Thank you to to volunteers of Tipperary Athletics and host club Dundrum Athletic Club.