Tipperary county cross country titles for Noelle O’Brien and Philly O’Dwyer

Moycarkey Coolcroo AC hosted the County Tipperary Novice B Cross Country Championships last Sunday. Great credit must go to the host club for providing a brilliant course last Sunday, despite the very inclement weather we have experienced in the past few weeks.

We witnessed two very competitive races and great credit is due to all the athletes involved. In the women’s 3k race we had Edel Delaney of Moyne setting the early pace over the two-lap course, with the rest of the field in Indian file behind her. Midway through the race she was joined at the front by Noelle O’ Brien of Mooreabbey Milers while we also had a great battle for the bronze medals between Paula Hendricksen of Fethard and Lisa Quinlan of Moyne. With 1,500 metres to go Noelle edged in front and had to work hard over the final kilometre to come home a very worthy and convincing champion in 13 mins 54 secs. Then we had Edel also running on strongly over the final 500m to win the silver medal in 14 mins 1 sec. The battle for the bronze medal was decided inside the last 75 metres, with Lisa using all her experience to edge in front and win the bronze medal in 14 mins 17 secs, with Paula fourth in 14 mins 24 secs. These brilliant performances all round showed that there is a need for this type of competition. Mairead Julian of Dundrum was fifth (14:54) and Regina Dorney, Thurles Crokes sixth (15:06).

In the team event, it was three athletes to score and Moyne, with two athletes in the top three, were very convincing winners. Their team consisted of Edel, Lisa and Ashling Maher 7th (15:10). Moyne were winning back the cup last won in 2016. Only one point separated the silver and bronze placings, with Mooreabbey Milers winning the silver medals on 21 points and their team consisted of Noelle, Deirdre Bailey 9th and Trish Blackburn 13th. Fethard on 21 points won the bronze medals with their team of Paula, Carol Molloy 8th and Marie Carroll 10th.

Fintan Rice, James Maher and John Needham, who represented Fethard AC at the County Novice B Cross Country Championship held on Sunday last, November 5 at The Turnpike, Two-Mile Borris. The event was hosted by Moycarkey/Coolcross AC  

The men’s race also attracted a very competitive entry. Here the early pace of the three-lap race was set by Ger Hanley of Mooreabbey Milers and the field of 25 athletes was well spread out going out on the second lap. Up front at around midway through the race Ger was joined by Philly O’Dwyer of Dundrum while the chasing pack consisted of Harry Hogan of Moyne, Kevin Patrick Lenihan of Mooreabbey Milers and the Fethard duo of Fintan Rice and James Maher. Going out on the last lap Philly had moved into a commanding lead, with Harry Hogan now giving chase, followed by Ger Hanley.

Philly maintained that strong pace to come home a very worthy and convincing champion in 23 mins 32 secs, with Harry winning the silver in 23 mins 51 secs. The long-time leader, Ger Hanley got renewed energy over the final 300 kilometres to win the bronze medal in 24:02 from his fast-finishing clubmate Kevin Patrick Lenihan, who was fourth, just two seconds adrift. Fintan Rice was fifth in (24:19) and James Maher was sixth in (24:28).

In the team event, with three athletes to score, the winners were Mooreabbey Milers with their team of Ger, Kevin Patrick and Michael Fitzgerald 10th. They had three points to spare over the Fethard team of Fintan, James and John Needham 9th. The bronze medals were won by the Moyne team of Harry, Brendan Delaney 7th and John Renehan 13th.

County Chairman, Owen Fanning thanked Moycarkey Coolcroo for providing a brilliant course, which on this Sunday, November 12 will host the Munster Juvenile Uneven and Munster Senior Cross Country Championships.