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07 Sept 2025
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07 Sept 2025
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The first three women home in the County Novice Road Championship race at Moyne on Sunday last - left to right, Laura Earley, Fethard AC, Laura Cooney, Clonmel AC and Orla Healy, Moyne AC
Moyne was the venue last Sunday for the opening events of this year’s County Road season, with the County Novice Road titles for both women and men down for decision. While there was a wintry chill to the weather the athletes coped very well, and we witnessed two very good races.
In the women’s 3k race, the warm favourite was Laura Cooney of Clonmel AC, who was making her senior debut for the club after a very successful juvenile career. Patsy Dorney got proceedings underway and right away Laura Cooney took up the pace, as she was determined to make this a winning debut for her club. Her pace soon saw her with a good lead as she approached the one kilometre mark, with Orla Healy of the local club her nearest rival.
At around halfway Laura was well in control, with Orla second and at this stage Laura Earley of Fethard AC, making her championship debut for her club moved into third place ahead of her club mate Edel Roche. Then as they approached the Moyne track with 400 metres to go Laura Cooney had a commanding lead, which she held all the way to the line to win the title very impressively in 10 mins 25 secs.
Orla Healy ran on very well to win the silver medal in 10 mins 50 secs while the bronze medal was won by Laura Earley in 11 mins 12 secs; great performances all round. Edel Roche of Fethard AC was fourth in 11 mins 26 secs with Michelle Ryan of Templemore AC fifth in 11 mins 31 secs and Mary Keane of Dundrum AC sixth in 11 mins 32 secs.
In the Interclub event Fethard, with two in the top four, were resounding winners, with their third scorer Paula Hendricksen 11th in 12 mins 13 secs. This is a historic win by Fethard AC, as they win this coveted title for the very first time in Athletics Ireland history, congratulations to all involved.
The silver medals were won by the Moyne AC trio of Orla, Angela Fogarty 8th 11.49 and Edel Delaney 12th (12:13).
The bronze medals were won by Clonmel AC and their team of Laura, Brid Hearne 9th (12:01) and Sareen Walsh 14th (12:14). There was a record entry of club teams in this team event, and with seven clubs having teams competing the future looks bright.
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