Tipperary athletics thrive to become National T&F League Champions for the very first time

Tipperary won the National Inter-County Track & Field league for the first time in Tullamore last Sunday week. Eight Counties contested the final; Tipperary, Galway, Kerry, Cork, Louth, Limerick, Kildare, and Monaghan.

Tipperary finished runners-up in the last two years, losing out by two points in '23. All the athletes competing on the squad are under 23 and all hold a national medal of some colour, gold, silver, or bronze at either indoor or outdoor in 2024 an incredibly talented group of young athletes to say the least.

Teams compete in all 21 events in athletics and the 15 best scoring events are tallied up for the final result. In the event of a tie the final event of the day, the 4 x 400m relay, decides the winner.

Nine points for a win, 7 for a second, and so on down to 1. Awaiting the final result can be nerve-wracking as the least scoring five events are deducted to give the final result. Outside of relays, this is one of the great team events on the calendar. In the preliminary round, run on the same points system, the top 8 counties go through to the final. (8 lanes).

Laura Frawley, Nenagh Oly. AC, got proceedings underway in the 100mh taking second and 7 points. Laura is the current National senior multi-events champion. Laura also took maximum points in the Long Jump, Weight for Distance, and part of the 4x100m relay.

Emer Brennan, Clonmel AC, after competing on Saturday in the National 300m finals, returned on Sunday battered and bruised from the previous day's fall to conquer the 400mh and score valuable points for the team. Emer later took her place on the 4x400m squad who finished second.

Jennifer O'Leary, Nenagh Oly. AC, fresh from her fine performance in the European U18 Championships in Slovakia, collected another 7 points edged out by a couple of hundredths of a second. Keep an eye out for this young lady in the future. Jennifer is also a member of the 4x400m team.

Kate Delaney, Moyne AC, the 16-year-old from Galmoy along with her twin sister Emma 400m made their debut on the Tipperary team for the first time. Kate ran the 2k Steeplechase a new event for her in '24 running a PB taking over 9 seconds off her previous best and collecting 6 points for the team. Emma running the 400m ran another PB in 62.50s and helped Tipperary to second in the 4x400m relay, another 6 points for the Premier County.

Kaley Cozens, Templemore AC, one of the more experienced on the team, threw 42.89m with her last throw and another 7 points in the bag. Clara Miniter, Nenagh Oly. AC, in her first year on the team, competed in the discus and finished third overall. Another 6 points is also an accomplished shot putter and lots to look forward to in '25.

Niamh Madden, Nenagh Oly. AC, 1.5k Walk, and Shot put in a fine performance with the 4kg shot, 9.89m finishing second, she is still in her mid-teens and has a bright future. Niamh Cunneen, Nenagh Oly. AC ran the 3k in very warm humid conditions and came home third behind Shona Heaslip of Kerry.

This is Niamhs fourth year on the Tipperary team. Clodagh Donohoe, Nenagh Oly. AC, joint Captain with Katie Bergin, took joint second in the High Jump and followed up with a fine performance in the Triple Jump, adding much-needed points to the scoreline.

Sarah Lane, Nenagh Oly. AC, this tough experienced athlete ran a super 800m timing her finish to perfection and taking all 9 points on offer, getting back to her best after injury has disrupted the last year. Sarah ran a fine leg of 4x400m finishing second.

Joint captain Katie Bergin, Moyne AC, along with Sarah are the longest-serving members of the present team. This is Katie's fifth year competing, running in the 100m and 200m and SB 11.74s +3m/w and 24.27s in 200m sets her up nicely for a tilt at U23 nationals next weekend. She secured 9 points in each.

Jade Barry, Carrick on Suir AC Javelin produced another one of those solid performances gained valuable points, and helped ensure victory for Tipperary.

The 4x100m relay saw Emily Davidson, Nenagh Oly. AC, led out to Grace Fitzgerald, Tipp Town, on the second leg who handed over to Ava Palmer, Newport AC, and the final leg was run by Laura Frawley who brought it home in 52.46s.

Siabh Connolly, Nenagh Oly. AC took on the Pole Vault and gained five valuable points from the event. Well done Siabh. Tipperary team suffered several injuries during the season.

Miriam Daly, Carrick on Suir AC, Sophie Walker, Newport AC, Lucy Fitzgerald, Tipp Town, and Emma O'Neill are all wished a speedy recovery and look forward to your participation in '25.

At the end of a long day and the points were tallied Tipperary came out victorious on 111.5 points with Galway in second at 106.5 points and Cork 96 points (last year's winners).

Team Manager: Martin Flynn.
Assistant Manager: Eamon Fitzgerald.
Selection Team: Gerry Donohoe, Fiona Walker, Geraldine Hickey, Sean Finn. Fr. Bobby Fletcher.
IT: Dylan McLoughlin.