Grennan and Mitchell claim cross country senior titles

Well, that’s a wrap! Day 3 of the 2023 Offaly Senior Cross Country Championships rounded off a superb series of cross country races last Sunday.

The success of the championships is due in a large part to the hard work and dedication of the Egan family. Their contribution in offering the land, preparing the course, and volunteering throughout the competition was instrumental in making the event a success.

Dermot Egan, a member of Ferbane AC and a son of the landowner Pat Egan, played a pivotal role in organising the championships and rallying his family to support the event. Their efforts over the past month in setting up the venue and ensuring everything ran smoothly for three days of racing are commendable and the very positive feedback from athletes and supporters was testament to that. Peter Ormond, Ballyskenach AC, and Tom Godley, Tullamore Harriers AC, deserve a mention for their contribution in the huge workload too. Well done to all the officials present - registration and time keepers, course officials and to everyone who played a part in the success of the championships.

Senior ladies race: The first race of the day, the 5000m Senior ladies’ race, featured 33 ladies from Birr AC, Ferbane AC, Edenderry AC, Naomh Mhuire AC and Tullamore Harriers.

From the beginning, three runners, namely Emily Grennan, Sarah Flanagan (both Tullamore Harriers), and Caroline Donnellan (Edenderry AC), took the lead with Denise Egan (Ferbane AC), the recently crowned Offaly Novice and Intermediate champion, keeping them within her sight throughout the race.

In the final lap of the 3-lap course, Grennan seized the lead and continued to extend it, displaying great confidence and control. With 500 metres to go, it became evident that Emily wouldn't be caught and she secured victory. Flanagan finished in second place, 10 seconds behind Emily, with Donnellan immediately following in third place. Emily and Sarah's strong performances not only earned them individual success but also contributed to Tullamore Harriers ladies winning the team competition.

This win marked the 4th consecutive year that they secured the Martina Conlon Perpetual Trophy. The Ferbane AC team was second, and Birr ladies took third place.

Martina Conlon, after whom the trophy is named, had a significant history in cross country running, winning the first Senior ladies cross country title when she was just 19 years old. Although she couldn't attend the event last Sunday, she would usually be present in her spikes in the blue and white for Tullamore Harriers!

Senior men’s race: Immediately after the ladies’ event, the men lined out for the longer 10000m race, with a field of 32 athletes from five clubs: Ballyskenach AC, Edenderry AC, Ferbane AC, Naomh Mhuire AC and Tullamore Harriers.

Paul Mitchell and Barry Minnock, both representing Tullamore Harriers, made an early surge to the front of the race, setting a fast pace right from the beginning. Tom Lupton from Ballyskenach AC remained in close pursuit of the leading pair, ensuring that the race for the top positions remained intense. By now the course, which consisted of six laps, had become quite soggy in certain areas but despite the challenging conditions, it made for excellent cross country running.

It was an exciting and closely contested battle between Paul Mitchell and Minnock, but in the end Paul found an extra gear and managed to secure victory and the gold medal.

Minnock's strong performance earned him a well-deserved second place. Lupton, who had been chasing the leaders throughout the race, finished a minute behind them, earning the bronze medal.

In the team competition, Tullamore Harriers reclaimed the Senior men's team trophy. Naomh Mhuire AC was 2nd team and Ferbane AC was 3rd.

Ladies results: Emily Grennan, Tullamore Harriers, 19.11; Sarah Flanagan, Tullamore Harriers, 19.29; Caroline Donnellan, Edenderry AC, 19.36; Denise Egan, Ferbane AC, 20.01; Aisling O'Connor, Edenderry, 21.11; Nita McLoughlin, Tullamore Harriers, 21.22; Bridget O'Sullivan, Ferbane, 21.48; Maire Triona O'Connor, Tullamore Harriers, 22.17; Carmel Murray, Birr AC, 23.07; Michelle Mullaney, Tullamore Harriers, 23.25; Rita Daly, Tullamore Harriers, 23.42; Lisa Murphy, Naomh Mhuire AC, 23.53; Edel Waldron, Ferbane, 24.01; Mary Blake, Ferbane, 24.14; Carmel Farrelly, Birr, 24.21; Denise Coghill, Ferbane AC, 24.29; Mairead Scally, Naomh Mhuire, 24.57; Emma Hart, Naomh Mhuire, 25.25; Susan Bourke, Birr, 25.54; Vanessa Connolly, Naomh Mhuire, 26.14; Louise Dunne, Naomh Mhuire, 26.33; Hilary Duncan, Tullamore Harriers; 26.36; Paula Lowry, Birr, 26.56; Jane Farrell, Edenderry, 27.39; Fiona O'Connor, Naomh Mhuire, 28.28; Tracey Burn, Naomh Mhuire, 29.01; Patricia Doolin, Naomh Mhuire, 29.07; Jamie Buckley, Edenderry, 29.47; Aisling Farrell, Naomh Mhuire, 31.16; AnnMarie Egan, Ferbane, 31.48; Michelle Madden, Naomh Mhuire, 31.52; Pauline Colgan, Naomh Mhuire, 31.53; Kathleen Delaney, Birr, 37.31.

Ladies team results: 1st - Tullamore Harriers, (Emily Grennan, Sarah Flanagan Nita McLoughlin, Maire Triona O’Connor); 2nd - Ferbane AC (Denise Egan, Bridget O’Sullivan, Edel Waldron, Mary Blake). 3rd - Birr AC (Carmel Murray, Carmel Farrelly, Susan Bourke, Paula Lowry).

Senior men’s results: Paul Mitchell, Tullamore Harriers, 36.01; Barry Minnock, Tullamore Harriers, 36.44; Tom Lupton, Ballyskenach AC, 37.37; Paul Buckley, Ferbane AC, 38.45; Kevin Minnock, Tullamore Harriers, 39.01; Brendan Donagher, Naomh Mhuire AC, 39.06; Padraig Berry, Tullamore Harriers, 39.21; Jimmy Coughlan, Naomh Mhuire, 39.42; Darren Reynolds, Tullamore Harriers, 40.02; Niall Kelly, Ferbane, 40.11; Darren Bermingham, Naomh Mhuire, 40.55; Kevin Looby, Naomh Mhuire, 41.01; Ger Cleary, Naomh Mhuire, 41.22; Daniel Molloy, Tullamore Harriers, 41.59; Brian Duffy, Edenderry AC, 42.44; Declan Murphy, Naomh Mhuire, 43.05; Dermot Egan, Ferbane, 44.14; Mark Barrett, Ferbane, 44.38; Sean Reynolds Tullamore Harriers, 45.32; Jason McDermott, Tullamore Harriers, 46.13; Shaun Bull, Edenderry, 46.38; David Hollywood, Tullamore Harriers, 47.16; Davd Breen, Edenderry, 47.35; Francis Connolly, Ferbane, 47.47; Adrian Delaney, Naomh Mhuire, 49.09; Kevin Brazil, Ferbane, 49.58; Ollie Dunne, Edenderry, 50.13; Peter Bennett, Tullamore Harriers, 50.31; Garrett Garry, Naomh Mhuire, 50.38; Mattie Flanagan Naomh Mhuire, 52.24; George Young, Edenderry, 52.27; Ciaran Todd, Naomh Mhuire, 53.16.

Senior men’s teams: 1st - Tullamore Harriers (Paul Mitchell, Barry Minnock, Kevin Minnock, Padraig Berry). 2nd - Naomh Mhuire AC (Brendan Donagher, Jimmy Coughlan, Darren Bermingham, Kevin Looby). 3rd - Ferbane AC (Paul Buckley, Niall Kelly, Dermot Egan, Mark Barrett).