Tipperary Senior Cross Country titles for Dymphna Ryan and Dermot Gorman

Cashel was the venue last Sunday for the County Tipperary Senior Women and Men’s Cross-Country Championships.

Both races attracted good entries, with seven clubs competing in the women’s race while nine clubs were represented in the men’s race. Conditions were very good, and great credit goes to Dundrum AC and their Chairman, Michael Ryan for having the 2k course well laid out.

The women’s race attracted an entry of 37 athletes, the biggest entry in this event for the past ten years. Great credit is due to all the clubs for getting their athletes out to compete in the blue riband event of the County Cross Country season.

In this race over three laps Dymphna Ryan, Dundrum AC, made her intentions known as she set a strong pace that soon had the entire field well spread out. Dymphna kept that strong pace going over the remainder of the race to come home a very worthy and convincing champion in 23 minutes 9 seconds, a brilliant performance.

Dymphna has won the last six County Senior Women’s Cross Country titles, a total of nine senior titles over the country, a tremendous achievement, proving that form is temporary, while class is permanent.

The battle for the other podium positions was between Orla Healy and Eileen McCullough, both Moyne AC athletes. Over the closing stages Orla went clear to win the silver medal in 26 minutes 10 seconds, with Eileen winning the bronze medal in 26 minutes 27 seconds.

Catherine Fogarty, Dundrum AC was fourth (26.36), Karen Coughlan Dundrum AC was fifth (26.53) and Mary Louise Ryan, Mooreabbey Milers AC was sixth (27.07). On home ground and with three athletes to score on the club team, Dundrum were convincing winners of the title. Their winning team was Dymphna Ryan, Catherine Fogarty and Karen Coughlan.

Moyne AC won the silver medals with their team of Orla Healy, Eileen McCullough and Lisa Quinlan ninth (27.33). Fethard AC won the bronze medals with their team of Tanya O’Brien tenth (27.50), Clotilde Fruscini 12th (28.13) and Jessica Kennedy 13th (28.14). This was Fethard AC’s first time winning medals at this event in recent years, so well done to all concerned.

There was a B section in this event for clubs who had teams in the A Section. Here Dundrum won gold as well with their team of Linda Grogan 7th (27.15), Mary Keane 8th (27.27) and Emily Leahy 24th (29,58). Clonmel AC won the silver medals with their team of Sareen Walsh 17th (28.44), Ruth Hally 22nd (29.53) and Marina Quinlan 23rd (29.58). Mooreabbey Milers AC won the bronze medals with their team of Mary Louise Ryan, Martina Moloney 16th (28.41) and Noelle O’Brien 18th (29.24).

The Men’s race also attracted a good entry, with nine clubs represented. Right from the start the pre-race favourite Dermot Gorman, Carrick-on-Suir AC went to the front. Soon a group of four set the pace with Alex Crowley Thurles Crokes, Louis Rice Fethard AC and Barry Hartnett Dundrum AC joining Dermot at the front of the five-lap race. Then as the leaders came back into view, we had Dermot and Barry at the front with Louis and Alex a few metres adrift.

As they approached halfway Dermot increased the pace and soon opened a lead on Barry. At this stage Dermot was running strongly and he made every stride a winning one to come home a very worthy and convincing winner. His winning time was 35 minutes 9 seconds for the 10k race, brilliant running.

Dermot is the second Carrick-on-Suir athlete to win this coveted title, following in the footsteps of Brian Murphy who won this title in 2011.

Then we had Barry Hartnett winning the silver medal in 36 minutes 15 seconds. The tussle for the bronze medal was decided inside the last kilometre, with Alex Crowley finishing third in 37 minutes 12 seconds.

Louis Rice Fethard AC was fourth (37.19), Tom O’Connell Dundrum AC fifth (38.14) and Albert Maher Dundrum AC sixth (39.45).

In the inter-club competition, Dundrum AC retained the cup for another twelve months. Their winning team was Barry Hartnett, Tom O’Connell, Albert Maher and Shane White 13th (41.14). Fethard AC won the silver medals with their team of Louis Rice, James Maher 8th (40.28), Eoghan Ryan 10th (40.46) and Fintan Rice 19th (42.57).

Carrick-on-Suir AC won the bronze medals with their team of Dermot Gorman, Eugene O’Keeffe 11th (40.57), Keith Fraher 22nd (45.47) and Patrick Roche 26th (46.57).

In the B Section the gold medals were won by the Dundrum AC team of Paudie Coen 14th (41.40), Paul Bradshaw 15th (41.58) and Richard Bresnan 17th (42.47).

The County Chairman, Owen Fanning, thanked Dundrum AC for hosting a great promotion of the sport. He also thanked the clubs for supporting these championships and the Civil Defence for First Aid.

Best Overall Club in the Senior Cross Country

The Josie Garrett Cup is presented each year to the Best Club in the county, covering all the adult Cross Country Championships. With just two events to go in the County Novice B and the County Master Championships, here is the current situation of the top six clubs – first, Dundrum AC 351 points, second, Fethard AC 350 points, third, Thurles Crokes 262 points, fourth, Clonmel AC 260 points, fifth, Mooreabbey Milers AC 186 points and sixth, Moyne AC 152 points. It’s all to run for with two events to go.

Munster Intermediate Cross Country

These championships are taking place this Sunday, November 15 in Clarecastle, County Clare. The very best of luck to all the county athletes taking part.

Munster Masters Cross Country Championships

These championships will take place in St Augustine’s College, Dungarvan on Sunday November 29.