The Munster even Age Cross
Country Championship took place in Limerick racecourse and this purpose built
course for horses would be a true test of endurance for every athlete that went
to the starting line.
First up were the girls u10 and here Cara Ryan and Caroline Smith both built on
their medal winning performance at the Counties to place 47th and 87th.
Tipperary were placed 4th in the points table. In the girls u12 both Hannah
Murray and Alice Meegan ran well to finish 135th and 153rd. In the boys u12 Darragh
Boland put in a brilliant run to place 28th out of age and was the third
Tipperary team member home. Unfortunately Tipperary finished just outside the
medals in 4th place.
In the girls u14 race Eimear Heafy and Meabh Meegan ran well to place 76th and
80th.
The u14 boys race was the clubs highlight of the day. Fantastic running from
our Clonmel team had Conor O Gorman finish 2nd, Cathal O Gorman 3rd, Cian
Flaherty 12th and Sean Mullins running out of age in 56th place. Such strength
in depth in this age group that these 4 runners pickers up 10 Munster medals
between them. Conor Cathal and Cian as well as earning individual medals were
all on the winning Munster County team and the Club team also finished in 2nd
place. It bodes well for the National championship as the Individual u14 winner
Shane Buckley is from Dundrum in Tipperary.
In the girls u16 race our County Champion Laura Cooney again lead the way with
a great run to place just outside the individual medals in 13th place, she was
ably backed up by fellow teammates Ruby Carroll 21st, Jane O Donnell 42nd,
Ellen Houze 61st, Grainne O Connor 66th and Celine Durand 67th. Laura Ruby and
Jane were on the Tipperary team that won the bronze medal. In the boys u16 race
Conor Flaherty ran a great race to place 20th as did Thomas Smith who placed
60th. Both lads were on the Tipperary County team that placed 4th.In the girls
u18 race another highlight of the day where Clonmel AC picked up 9 medals,
Siobhan Whelan placed 5th and along with teammates Emma Murray 15th, Roise
Flaherty 34th and Brid Moynihan 36th were on both Club and County teams that
took the bronze medals.
In all the Club won 22 munster medals. Great credit to the athletes the coaches
and the support of their parents.
Special mention also to Grainne O Connor who has been chosen on the Munster
Regional Athletics Squad.
Clonmel AC.