All-Ireland Even ages & Junior/Senior Inter County Cross-Country championships
Date: 22/11/09
Togher athletes continued their outstanding Cross-Country season with some great individual and team performances at the All-Ireland Even ages & Junior/Senior Inter County Cross-Country championships held at Kilbeggan Racecourse Co. Westmeath today. The course was testing for the athletes with strong winds and some mud but was mainly flat.
First into action was Rory Casey in the boy’s u12 1000m race. This was Rorys 1st ever All-Ireland championship and he ran very well to finish in 104th position.
Next into action was the u14 team racing over 1500m. These guys only took up the sport 8 weeks ago and what an impact they have made. Jack O Mahony led them home with a superb 36th place finish and he was ably assisted by Alan Ring 55th, Liam Harris 59th and Alan Horgan 88th. The team finished a great 8th out of 16 teams. No doubt they will improve over the years.
In the u16 3000m Ian Hartnett made his intentions clear from the gun where he joined a group of five runners who broke away from the rest of the field. Ian battled hard throughout and finished in an outstanding 3rd place earning himself a place on the Irish team for the Celtic International Cross-Country in January. Behind Ian his team was running their hearts out. This time last year they lost the All-Ireland team title on countback but were determined to change the result this time around. Ian Tobin worked his way through the field to a superb 13th and with other great runs by Emmet Bracken 14th and Andrew O’ Keeffe 35th they easily won the All-Ireland team title. The Cork team was also 1st here and the Munster team 2nd.
The boys u18 race over 5000m was to prove a historic one, with the club winning both the individual title and the team title. Patrick Coleman produced his greatest ever display of running by taking the All-Ireland title with a real gutsy run. Patrick sat in the main pack for much of the race before breaking clear with a Leinster athlete. Patrick went for home with 400m to go and went on to win his first ever All-Ireland title in style. Patrick now becomes only the 3rd ever Togher athlete to win an All-Ireland Cross-Country title alongside Patrick Murphy and Craig Murphy. Peter Hanrahan also ran a superb race to finish 9th and with great runs from Brian Murray 24th and Mark Seacy 26th the team won the title here also. This is their third year winning the All-Ireland title in a row.
In the Junior mens 6000m race four Togher athletes helped the Cork team to a superb 3rd place finish. Alan O Brien led them home in 43rd and other great runs came from Adam Kelleher 46th and Rob Long 56th. Last race of the day was the senior men’s 10000m race with the club led home by Peter Fennell. Donal Coakley also ran a superb race.
It was a truly special day for the club and it was great to see the just reward for all the athletes who have put in a huge effort over the last few months and indeed years. Well done to all.
Photos
Togher athletes continued their outstanding Cross-Country season with some great individual and team performances at the All-Ireland Even ages & Junior/Senior Inter County Cross-Country championships held at Kilbeggan Racecourse Co. Westmeath today. The course was testing for the athletes with strong winds and some mud but was mainly flat.
First into action was Rory Casey in the boy’s u12 1000m race. This was Rorys 1st ever All-Ireland championship and he ran very well to finish in 104th position.
Next into action was the u14 team racing over 1500m. These guys only took up the sport 8 weeks ago and what an impact they have made. Jack O Mahony led them home with a superb 36th place finish and he was ably assisted by Alan Ring 55th, Liam Harris 59th and Alan Horgan 88th. The team finished a great 8th out of 16 teams. No doubt they will improve over the years.
In the u16 3000m Ian Hartnett made his intentions clear from the gun where he joined a group of five runners who broke away from the rest of the field. Ian battled hard throughout and finished in an outstanding 3rd place earning himself a place on the Irish team for the Celtic International Cross-Country in January. Behind Ian his team was running their hearts out. This time last year they lost the All-Ireland team title on countback but were determined to change the result this time around. Ian Tobin worked his way through the field to a superb 13th and with other great runs by Emmet Bracken 14th and Andrew O’ Keeffe 35th they easily won the All-Ireland team title. The Cork team was also 1st here and the Munster team 2nd.
The boys u18 race over 5000m was to prove a historic one, with the club winning both the individual title and the team title. Patrick Coleman produced his greatest ever display of running by taking the All-Ireland title with a real gutsy run. Patrick sat in the main pack for much of the race before breaking clear with a Leinster athlete. Patrick went for home with 400m to go and went on to win his first ever All-Ireland title in style. Patrick now becomes only the 3rd ever Togher athlete to win an All-Ireland Cross-Country title alongside Patrick Murphy and Craig Murphy. Peter Hanrahan also ran a superb race to finish 9th and with great runs from Brian Murray 24th and Mark Seacy 26th the team won the title here also. This is their third year winning the All-Ireland title in a row.
In the Junior mens 6000m race four Togher athletes helped the Cork team to a superb 3rd place finish. Alan O Brien led them home in 43rd and other great runs came from Adam Kelleher 46th and Rob Long 56th. Last race of the day was the senior men’s 10000m race with the club led home by Peter Fennell. Donal Coakley also ran a superb race.
It was a truly special day for the club and it was great to see the just reward for all the athletes who have put in a huge effort over the last few months and indeed years. Well done to all.
Photos
