Intermediate cross country title for Mooney as McEnhill claims silver
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Pictured from left: Donough McBrearty (Ferbane AC, third); Barry Mooney (Tullamore Harriers, first); and William Delahunty (Ballyskenach AC second).Image 2 of 2
The top three in the intermediate ladies’ race (l-r): Niamh McEnhill (Tullamore Harriers, 2nd); Brid Ryan (Ballyskenach AC, 1st); and Ciara Moran (Naomh Mhuire AC, 3rd).Day 3 of the Offaly Cross Country Championships took place in the Faithful Fields, Kilcormac last Sunday. Following several days of unsettled weather, conditions turned around perfectly for those officiating and competing with dry, bright sunny spells, albeit a little chilly, as one might expect for early November.
The first race of the day involved the Intermediate ladies and Tullamore Harriers chairman Adrian Curley gave the ladies their course instructions before blowing the starting whistle to send them off on the 5000m course. This consisted of one 500m loop followed by three 1500m laps.
Brid Ryan of Ballyskenach AC took control from an early stage and maintained her position with confidence throughout to secure a convincing victory. Niamh McEnhill (Tullamore Harriers), who has had a superb season, ran strongly to take the silver intermediate medal, holding her position comfortably from early on. Ciara Moran of Naomh Mhuire AC claimed third place to complete the podium. In the ladies’ race, Hilary Duncan was the club’s other representative, and she too had a solid run.
In the Intermediate men’s 8000m race, consisting of one 500m loop followed by five 1500m laps, Tullamore Harriers athlete Barry Mooney surged ahead of the 31-strong field from the whistle. Barry, who has been running very well of late, steadily extended his lead and looked like a sure winner by the third lap.
William Delahunty of Ballyskenach AC held second place throughout, closing the gap in the final two laps but never near enough to catch Barry. William took the well-deserved silver intermediate medal finishing 50 seconds behind Barry.
The battle for third place was a close one between Ferbane AC’s duo Donough McBrearty and Niall Kelly, with McBrearty edging out his clubmate by just a few seconds to take the bronze medal.
Barry led the Tullamore Harriers team, also consisting of Darren Butler, Alan Mitchell and Liam Byrne, to third place in the team standings. The men finished level on points with Naomh Mhuire AC but on a countback, it was Harriers who took home the bronze team medals.
Well done to all athletes who lined out and supported the championships and to all the officials who assisted during the day. The final events of the 2025 Offaly cross country championships will be on Sunday, November 30 where the Offaly senior men and women will be competing.
Ladies' team results - 1st: Naomh Mhuire AC, 20 points (2, 5, 6, 7); 2nd: Ferbane AC, 53 points (4, 11, 15, 23); 3rd: Edenderry AC, 78 points (18, 19, 20, 21).
Men's team results - 1st: Ballyskenach AC, 29 points (2, 6, 7, 14); 2nd: Ferbane AC, 33 points (3, 4, 9, 17); 3rd: Tullamore Harriers AC, 39 points (1, 11, 12, 15); 4th: Naomh Mhuire AC, 39 points (5, 8, 10, 16).