All-Ireland Cross-Country championships
Date: 23/11/08
It was a fantastic day for the club today at the All-Ireland Cross-Country championships in Tramore Racecourse. With a biting cold wind and rain showers, conditions were tough for the athletes. This did not deter the Togher men as they took a superb team victory in the u16 boys race and Craig Murphy won the national junior title in dramatic fashion.
First into action were the u14 team seeking a top 5 finish. They bettered this by coming a superb 4th narrowly missing out on the bronze medals by 3 points. They were led by the superb Eoin Bourke in 22nd place and with Billy Murphy 30th, Luke O' Leary 40th and John Durcan 49th the team came a superb 4th.
In the u16 race the team that promised so much all season delivered in style. They retained the u16 team title that the club won for the first time ever last year. The team were led home by Cullen Lynch in 19th and other superb runs came from Patrick Coleman 25th, Ian Tobin 31st and Ian Hartnett 36th. The team were so strong they had 7 athletes in the top 40. Well done on a superb team effort.
The u18 team didnt perform up to their own expectations with some of the team finding the going tough. They did however finish a very good 4th led home by Peter Hanrahan in 23rd and other great runs from Adam Kelleher 32nd, Dave O' Keeffe 39th and Alan O' Brien 44th.
Finally came the junior race and the expected head to head between our own Craig Murphy and Michael Mulhare from Laois. The action started after 300m when Craig was clipped from behind and his spike became loose. Craig was forced to stop and try to put it on again. He was unable to do so and was forced to take it off and start the race again in last position over 200m behind the leaders. Craig showed true guts and heart in fighting his way back up to the lead over the first lap and eventually taking the lead. He ran like a man possessed and crossed the line 13 seconds clear of his nearest rival to win the National Junior title in style. He now focuses his attention on the European Cross-Country championships in Belgium on December 14th.
Eoin O' Sullivan also competed in the senior mens race and had a great run finishing well up the field and helping the Cork team do well in the process.
Congratulations to all the athletes on some superb performances today.
Photos from Tramore
It was a fantastic day for the club today at the All-Ireland Cross-Country championships in Tramore Racecourse. With a biting cold wind and rain showers, conditions were tough for the athletes. This did not deter the Togher men as they took a superb team victory in the u16 boys race and Craig Murphy won the national junior title in dramatic fashion.
First into action were the u14 team seeking a top 5 finish. They bettered this by coming a superb 4th narrowly missing out on the bronze medals by 3 points. They were led by the superb Eoin Bourke in 22nd place and with Billy Murphy 30th, Luke O' Leary 40th and John Durcan 49th the team came a superb 4th.
In the u16 race the team that promised so much all season delivered in style. They retained the u16 team title that the club won for the first time ever last year. The team were led home by Cullen Lynch in 19th and other superb runs came from Patrick Coleman 25th, Ian Tobin 31st and Ian Hartnett 36th. The team were so strong they had 7 athletes in the top 40. Well done on a superb team effort.
The u18 team didnt perform up to their own expectations with some of the team finding the going tough. They did however finish a very good 4th led home by Peter Hanrahan in 23rd and other great runs from Adam Kelleher 32nd, Dave O' Keeffe 39th and Alan O' Brien 44th.
Finally came the junior race and the expected head to head between our own Craig Murphy and Michael Mulhare from Laois. The action started after 300m when Craig was clipped from behind and his spike became loose. Craig was forced to stop and try to put it on again. He was unable to do so and was forced to take it off and start the race again in last position over 200m behind the leaders. Craig showed true guts and heart in fighting his way back up to the lead over the first lap and eventually taking the lead. He ran like a man possessed and crossed the line 13 seconds clear of his nearest rival to win the National Junior title in style. He now focuses his attention on the European Cross-Country championships in Belgium on December 14th.
Eoin O' Sullivan also competed in the senior mens race and had a great run finishing well up the field and helping the Cork team do well in the process.
Congratulations to all the athletes on some superb performances today.
Photos from Tramore
