Flanagan and Dunne win Offaly cross country novice titles

It’s official - the Offaly cross country season has begun! It got off to a great start last Sunday morning with the Offaly Novice & Master Championships, in the beautiful surrounds of Lough Boora Discovery Park.

While there was a little nip in the air, the weather was ideal with clear blue skies and not a drop of rain in sight.

The Novice and Master ladies were off first and all lined out together in the combined 4k race - which was four laps of the one-kilometre loop around the perimeter of the lush green field.

From the whistle, Caroline Donnellan from Edenderry AC took the lead, with Tullamore Harriers newbie Sarah Flanagan hot on her heels for the first 2 laps. Caroline widened the gap taking the ladies master title with ease for the second time in succession with a time of 16.01.

Sarah had a very solid run (16.36) taking the Offaly Novice title on her first cross country outing in the blue and white club singlet.

Nita McLoughlin (17.25) and Evelyn Herlihy (17.29), both representing Tullamore Harriers, ran neck and neck for the entire race and finished a close 2nd and 3rd Masters respectively.

Rita Daly Tullamore of Harriers AC, finishing 6th overall, was 1st O50 in 18.18. Birr AC’s Carmel Murray was next to take 2nd O50 and Hilary Duncan took the bronze O50 individual medal.

Ailbhe McDonnell of Ferbane AC was 2nd Novice lady and Lynn Mooney, Tullamore Harriers, was 3rd Novice. Birr AC’s Kathleen Delaney was 1st O60.

There was a very good field of 36 ladies representing Naomh Mhuire AC, Edenderry AC, Ferbane AC, Birr AC, Kilcormac/Killoughey AC and Tullamore Harriers, with many competing in cross country for the first time. The feedback was very positive with the flat course adding to the attraction.

In the Novice Ladies team contest the result couldn’t have been tighter with Edenderry scoring 32 points to take Gold team medals, Tullamore Harriers scoring 33 points for Silver medals and Ferbane AC with 34 points to earn the bronze team medals. The Tullamore O35 ladies took gold team medals with Naomh Mhuire AC taking silver.

Immediately following the ladies race, the Novice and Master Men also ran a combined race - 6k covering six laps of the course. A smaller field of 30 men raced for the county titles with Paul Buckley of Ferbane AC leading the charge from the off and without any threat took the Offaly Master title for 2022 in 21.57.

Jonathan Dunne of Tullamore Harriers AC in 2nd (22.11 ) was fighting for the Novice crown and ultimately captured it ahead of Naomh Mhuire’s Brendan Donagher (22.37). Brendan, as always, had a super run, leaving athletes far younger in his trail. Tullamore Harriers AC’s Cian Martin was 3rd Novice (22.49).

Pauric Berry (23.07) and Richie Faulkiner (24.32) both Tullamore Harriers, took the silver and bronze Masters medals respectively.

The Tullamore Harriers trio of Alan Heffernan, Sean Reynolds and Alan Mitchell took individual gold, silver and bronze county medals respectively, and the O50 gold team medals.

Tim Camon, Ferbane AC, took a very well deserved gold in the O60 age category and Jim Langan who raced in the 4k race won the 1st O80 individual county medal.

In the Men’s team competition, the Novice gold medals went to Naomh Mhuire AC on 37 points and silver to Edenderry AC on 46 points. Tullamore Harriers took gold team medals in the O35 group with Naomh Mhuire taking silver team medals.

In addition to the clubs already mentioned, men from Ballyskenach AC, Clara AC, Banagher AC and Kilcormac Killoughey AC lined out on the day.

Well done to all competing and to all the officials and supporting clubs. Team results as follows.

Novice Ladies: 1st - Edenderry AC (32 points): Natasha O’Brien, Michelle O’Brien, Aine Malone, Rhona Bergin. 2nd - Tullamore Harriers AC (33 points): Sarah Flanagan, Lynn Mooney, Charlotte Abbott & Sandra Busteed. 3rd - Ferbane AC (34 points): Ailbhe McDonnell, Mary Hickey, Catriona Daly & Orla Ni Nualainn.

Masters O35 Ladies: 1st - Tullamore Harriers (16 points): Nita McLoughlin, Evelyn Herlihy, Rita Daly & Hilary Duncan. 2nd - Naomh Mhuire AC (38 points): Helen Chambers, Sharon Jones, Shirley Reynolds & Aisling Farrell.

Novice Men: 1st - Naomh Mhuire AC (37 points): Brendan Donagher, Conor Gilsenan, Willie Duffy and Evan Lynam. 2nd - Edenderry AC (46 points): Brian Duffy, Mark Evans, James Donoghue and Shaun Bull.

Masters O35 Men: 1st - Tullamore Harriers (20 points): Pauric Berry, Richie Faulkiner, Brendan Abbott & Jason McDermott. 2nd - Naomh Mhuire AC (52 points): Ger Cleary, Adrian Delaney, Mattie Flanagan & Padraig Sheil.

Master O50 Men: 1st - Tullamore Harriers (15 points): Alan Heffernan, Sean Reynolds & Alan Mitchell.