Conor Flaherty is Tipperary Men's Novice Cross Country Champion - Fethard win team

The county cross country season got under way in earnest in Galbally last Sunday with the Novice Cross Country Championships down for decision. The local club, Mooreabbey Milers, as usual had a very good course well laid out. Conditions were relatively good, considering all the rain we had in the previous week. Warm sunshine greeted the athletes as they descended on the village under the shadow of the Galtee mountains, which provided a spectacular background view to the whole proceedings.

We witnessed two very good races, and it was great to see some new faces in both races and major credit is due to the clubs for encouraging these members to compete in cross country. With some of them winning medals for their clubs, it augurs well for the future. We had athletes representing ten clubs and entries were very good for both races. We had quality as well as quantity and long may it continue. It was a day when youth came to the fore in both races.

MEN’S RACE
The men’s race was also very competitive, with the early pace set by Louis Rice of Fethard and the eventual champion, Conor Flaherty of Clonmel AC.
Over the six-lap race these two moved well clear of the chasing pack in the early stages. Then midway through the race Conor increased the pace and made every stride a winning one as he came home a very worthy and convincing champion in 22 mins 3 secs.
Conor was completing the classic Novice double titles, having won the County Road title in Moyne last February. It’s great to see such talent moving into the senior ranks.
Then we had Louis Rice also running a brilliant race when capturing the silver medal in 22 mins 27 secs. The bronze medal was won by Barry Hartnett of Dundrum AC in 22 mins 33 secs.
For the record Emmet McNamara of Fethard was fourth, Denis McCullough of Thurles Crokes was fifth and Stephen Flanagan of Moyne was sixth.

In the team event history was made as Fethard won their first County Club Novice Cross Country title under Athletics Ireland with their team of Louis Rice, Emmet McNamara, Fintan Rice, ninth and James Maher 14th. Well done to all concerned. County Chairman, Owen Fanning, took great pride in presenting the cup to his clubmates.
The silver medals were won by the Dundrum quartet of Barry Hartnett, Darren Allison, 7th, Philly O’Dwyer 10th and Colm Bradshaw 13th. The host club team of William O’Donoghue 8th, Ger Hanley 11th, Kevin Patrick Lenihan 16th and Michael Bailey 21st won the bronze medals.

At the presentation of the awards the county chairman thanked all the clubs for supporting these championships. He also thanked Mooreabbey Milers for once again promoting a very good cross country championships event.