Emphatic title wins for Ryan and Moloney in Tipperary Senior Cross County Championships

The County Senior Cross Country Championship titles were decided in Cashel last Sunday, when conditions were very good and great credit is due to the landowner, Michael Ryan, for producing a great course.

The women’s 6k race got proceedings underway at 11am. Here Dymphna Ryan of Dundrum AC put in a brilliant gun to tape performance when winning the coveted title very impressively in 22 mins 36 secs. This was Dymphna Ryan’s second three in a row achievement. She achieved a similar feat in 2010-2012 and joins Madeline Loughnane (Thurles Crokes) as holder of six county senior titles, which is brilliant consistency.

Then we had Kealey Tideswell of Clonmel AC moving into the silver position shortly after the start and she maintained that strong pace to win the silver medal impressively in 24 mins 3 secs.

For most of the three-lap race there was a great tussle for the bronze medal between the Dundrum AC duo of Linda Grogan and Catherine Fogarty, as well as Eileen McCullough of Thurles Crokes. On the last lap Linda edged clear and held on to win the bronze medal in 25 mins 22 secs. Eileen was fourth in 25 mins 31 secs with Catherine Fogarty fifth in 25 mins 59 secs and Orla Healy Moyne sixth in 26 mins 26 secs.

In the team event Dundrum retained their title very impressively with their team of Dymphna, Linda and Catherine in the top five placings completing a five in a row, a brilliant achievement. The silver medals were won by the Clonmel team of Kealey, Suzanne Shine 9th (27:08) and Sarah Whelan 12th (27:45). The bronze medals were won by the Moyne team of Orla, Louise Fogarty 8th (27: 04) and Sharon Cantwell 11th (27:41).

There was a B section in this race for clubs who could field two teams and here the gold medals were won by the Dundrum AC team of Karen Coughlan, Patricia Ryan and Mary Keane.

Individual medals winners in the county senior cross country championship on Sunday last. WOMEN: Linda Grogan Dundrum AC, Dymphna Ryan Dundrum AC and Kealey Tideswell Clonmel AC.

The Men’s 10k race, over five laps, also saw a very impressive performance by Stuart Moloney of Mooreabbey Milers AC. Stuart took up the pace right from the whistle and made every stride a winning one as he came home a very impressive and convincing winner in 34 mins 40 secs.

The battle for the silver and bronze involved four athletes, Barry Harnett of Dundrum AC, Mossy Bracken of Moycarkey Coolcroo AC and the Fethard AC duo of Louis Rice and Emmet McNamara. Midway through the race Louis moved into second place. He maintained that strong pace and gradually, as the race unfolded, he consolidated that position to win the silver medal in 35 mins 19 secs, his first county senior medal, a brilliant achievement.

The bronze medal was decided inside the last two laps as Emmet McNamara edged clear of Mossy and Barry to win the bronze medal in 35 mins 32secs, his first county senior medal and also an outstanding achievement. Barry Hartnett of Dundrum AC was fourth (35:49), Mossy Bracken Moycarkey Coolcroo AC fifth (36:35) and Pawel Hoc of Clonmel AC sixth (38:21).

In the team event Moycarkey Coolcroo were very impressive winners with their four athletes in the top ten. Their team was Mossy, Matthew Ryan 7th (38:27), Paddy Cummins 8th (38:34) and Conor Keating 10th (39:02).

These four athletes created club history as they were winning this title for their club for the very first time in Athletics Ireland, a fantastic achievement and well done to all involved.

The silver medals were won by the Fethard AC team of Louis, Emmet, Fintan Rice 14th (40:22) and Jack Spillane 29th (43:49). The bronze medals were won by the Clonmel AC team of Pawel, Aidan Flannery 11th (39:24), Paul Minogue 13th (40:20) and Eelco Beckers 19th (41:55).

Here we also had a B section for clubs that entered more than one team. The gold medals were won by the Mooreabbey Milers AC team of Damien Holian, Kevin Patrick Lenihan and Sean Landers. The silver medals were won by the Dundrum AC team of Gerry O’Neill, Pat Ryan and Jim Halley. The bronze medals were won by the Mooreabbey Milers AC team of Liam O’Donnell, Jason Collins and Liam Lewis.

Looking back over the records since Athletics Ireland was formed in 2000, it is the first time that Dundrum AC did not feature in the top three clubs in this event, a fantastic level of consistency. The Chairman, Owen Fanning, praised Dundrum AC for providing a great course and to all the athletes for two very competitive races. He said it was great to see six clubs entering teams in the women’s race and long may it continue. He wished all the athletes, and everyone involved in athletics the very best for Christmas and he hopes that 2024 will be a year of great achievements by our athletes.