Minnock and Ryan are Offaly Novice Cross Country champions
Congratulations to Kevin Minnock, Tullamore Harriers AC and Brid Ryan, Ballyskenach AC who both claimed the 2024 Offaly Novice Cross Country titles in the Faithful Fields on Sunday last, September 22nd.
This event marked the first-ever cross-country fixture held at Faithful Fields, with three more cross country championships scheduled for the season at this venue. A special commendation goes to Dermot Egan of Ferbane AC for his tireless efforts in preparing the course, ensuring it was ready for the competition.
Offaly Athletics extends gratitude to the participating clubs for fielding teams and is hopeful for even greater attendance at the remaining championships. A big thank you is also in order for Offaly GAA, who generously provided the Faithful Fields, and to Offaly Civil Defence for their essential support throughout the day.
Day 2 of the county championships kicked off with the ladies’s novice race which was run over 4000m. The course consisted of 2 laps of a 500m loop and 2 circuits of the larger 1500m loop. On a bright fresh day, it was ideal weather for any form of running and while the underfoot conditions were dry, there were parts of the fields very hard and uneven following a very warm spell of weather over the last week.
From the whistle, Sarah Flanagan, Tullamore Harriers, took to lead and made light work of the 4k. Sarah won the Novice title already so was running as a guest and getting in some valuable cross country racing practice ahead of the Leinster and National Cross-country season. The 42 chasing ladies bunched well and come great running was on display. Brid Ryan, Ballyskenach AC ran a very strong race, widened her lead going into the final lap and was a comfortable winner with Lisa Murphy, Naomh Mhuire AC 20 seconds back and Ferbane's Ailbhe McDonnell taking 3rd place.
Sinead Greene Ferbane AC, ran along with the Novice ladies taking the Junior Cross Country title finishing in 7th position overall.
The team event was closely contested, with Naomh Mhuire AC edging Ferbane AC by just 3 points (33 to 36) to claim the top team spot, while Tullamore Harriers finished third with 50 points.
In the men's 6000m race, Kevin Minnock of Tullamore Harriers put in an outstanding performance, securing a convincing win. Covering four laps of the larger loop, Minnock extended his lead with each lap, crossing the finish line in 20:59. Kevin Looby from Naomh Mhuire AC took second place, while Adam Courtney of Ferbane AC finished third in the novice category.
Minnock’s strong run also helped Tullamore Harriers claim first place in the team competition with 28 points. Ferbane AC came in second with 48 points, and Naomh Mhuire AC were close behind in third, with 51 points.
Full results:
Ladies
Sarah Flanagan Tullamore Harriers Guest 16.29
Brid Ryan Ballyskenach AC 17.31
Lisa Murphy Naomh Mhuire AC 17.57
Ailbhe McDonnell Ferbane AC 18.04
Aoife Greene Ferbane AC 18.27
Carmel Murray Birr AC 18.33
Sinead Greene Ferbane AC 1st Junior 18.38
Mairead Scally Naomh Mhuire AC 18.41
Rita Daly Tullamore Harriers 18.42
Edel Waldron Ferbane AC 18.48
Michelle Mullaney Tullamore Harriers 19.12
Grainne McManus Naomh Mhuire AC 19.31
Dympna O'Hara Naomh Mhuire AC 19.36
Hilary Duncan Tullamore Harriers 19.44
Aine Golden Tullamore Harriers 19.51
HIlary Condron Tullamore Harriers 19.52
Susan Burke Birr AC 19.56
Niamh Cummins Ballyskenach AC 20.03
Vanessa Connolly Naomh Mhuire AC 20.09
Claire Slevin Kilcormac Killoughey AC 20.22
Catriona Guinan Ferbane AC 20.25
Breda King Birr AC 21.03
Marie Sweeney Birr AC 21.31
Patricia Doolan Naomh Mhuire AC 21.56
Fiona O'Connor Naomh Mhuire AC 22.02
Helen Chambers Naomh Mhuire AC 22.05
Claire Murphy Ballyskenach AC 22.11
Una Kinsella Ballyskenach AC 22.27
Margaret Hayes Ballyskenach AC 22.42
Kelly Farrell Naomh Mhuire AC 22.44
Teresa Moran Ferbane AC 23.08
Imelda Grogan Ferbane AC 23.32
Pamela Darcy Ferbane AC 23.37
Pauline Colgan Naomh Mhuire AC 23.43
Shirley Reynolds Naomh Mhuire AC 24.41
Sandra Busteed Tullamore Harriers 24.44
Tracey Burns Naomh Mhuire AC 25.13
Olivia Farrell Naomh Mhuire AC 26.12
Sharon Jones Naomh Mhuire AC 26.12
Malgorzcta Jasin Clara AC 26.33
AnnMaria Egan Ferbane AC 26.37
Lucy Devery Ferbane AC 29.42
Kathleen Delaney Birr AC 35.59
Teams
1st (33 points) Naomh Mhuire AC - Lisa Murphy Mairead Scally, Grainne McManus and Dympna O'Hara
2nd (36 points) Ferbane AC - Ailbhe McDonnell, Aoife Greene, Edel Waldron and Catriona Guinan
3rd (50 points) Tullamore Harriers AC - Rita Daly, Hilary Duncan, Aine Golden and Hilary Condron
Men
Kevin Minnock Tullamore Harriers AC 20.54
Kevin Looby Naomh Mhuire AC 22.13
Adam Courtney Ferbane AC 22.4
Donagh McBrearty Ferbane AC 22.53
Brendan Donagher Naomh Mhuire AC 22.54
Padraig Berry Tullamore Harriers AC 23.09
David Staunton Clara AC 23.22
Glen Finlay Tullamore Harriers AC 23.54
Gary Whittle Tullamore Harriers AC 23.59
Nigel Cunningham Tullamore Harriers AC 24.09
Daniel Molloy Tullamore Harriers AC 24.45
Jason McDermott Tullamore Harriers AC 25.08
Darren Butler Tullamore Harriers AC 25.11
David Hollywood Tullamore Harriers AC 25.13
Ken Hume Clara AC 25.25
Peter Walsh 25.34
Alan Mitchell Tullamore Harriers AC 25.42
David King Birr AC 26.12
Dermot Egan Ferbane AC 26.23
Jonathan King Tullamore Harriers AC 26.25
John Kirwan Naomh Mhuire AC 26.35
Kevin Brazil Ferbane AC 26.52
Gerry Minnock Naomh Mhuire AC 27.09
Adrian Delaney Naomh Mhuire AC 27.09
Patrick Claffey Kilcormac Killoughey 27.31
Mike Connolly Birr AC 28.36
Sergio Contreas Clara AC 29.14
Paul McGrath Naomh Mhuire AC 29.39
Mattie Flanagan Naomh Mhuire AC 30.13
Noel Horan Ferbane AC 30.39
Michael Guinan Ferbane AC 30.55
Ciaran Todd Naomh Mhuire AC 32.41
John Bennett Ferbane AC 36.24
1st (28 points) Tullamore Harriers AC - Kevin Minnock, Glen Finlay, Garry Whittle and Nigel Cunningham
2nd (48 points) Ferbane AC - Adam Courtney, Donagh McBrearty, Dermot Egan and Kevin Brazil
3rd (51 points) Naomh Mhuire AC - Kevin Looby, Brendan Donagher, John Kirwan and Gerry Minnock