All Ireland Cross Country Championships
Date: 7/12/08
Togher athletes completed a memorable clubs cross-country season by taking home 36 All-Ireland medals, another team gold and a team silver at the 2nd leg of the All-Ireland Cross-Country Championships in Ballyhaise Co. Cavan. Held on a tough undulating course with some mucky patches, the athletes did both themselves and their club incredibly proud.
After some below par performances by some of the athletes in Tramore Racecourse two weeks ago, Togher athletes were out to prove a point. Alan Ring was the sole Togher competitor in the boy’s u13 race and in his first ever National championships, he performed very well.
The boy’s u15 team had very high goals for the season seeking to take the National team title. En route to the All-Ireland championships they won gold at both the Cork and Munster championships and were confident of further success. From the off the boys went out hard and were all in the top 50. Ian Hartnett continued his superb season running the race of his life leading the team home in 6th place. This was truly outstanding as Ian only joined the club last August. Behind Ian, the ever-consistent Ian Tobin was running like a man possessed. Ian showed true guts and determination to finish a fantastic 13th. The team scoring was completed by the great runs from Andrew O’ Keeffe 25th and James Kelleher 37th. Togher ended up level on 81 points with St Marys Limerick AC and lost the team title on countback. Cork were 2nd in the inter county team contest and Munster were 1st.
The boy’s u17 team lined up for their 4000m race in high spirits. They were the raining National champions and were looking to retain the title. That they did, in dramatic fashion. Captain Peter Hanrahan played a staring role leading the team home in 8th place and Patrick Coleman was right behind him coming a superb 13th. Brian Murray was very disappointed with his race in Tramore two weeks previous but came to Ballyhaise on a revenge mission. Brian didn’t disappoint and battled to a super 15th place finish. The ever-consistent Cullen Lynch completed the scoring in 38th place. Other outstanding runs came from Mark Seacy, Sean Barry, Rob O’ Shea, John Dorgan and Cillian Fleming. The team won the title easily with 74 points and Cork also won the inter county contest. Munster won the inter provincial contest also. Congratulations to the u17 team on a superb team win.
Our u19 team competed over 6000m and did very well finishing in 6th place. Alan O’ Brien gave a sterling performance leading the team home in 32nd place. Others to run well were Richard Quirke, Dave O’ Keeffe, Padraig Sweeney and Adam Kelleher. Cork were 2nd in the inter county team contest and Munster 2nd in the inter provincial contest.
Also racing this weekend was Robert Heffernan in Barcelona. Robert competed in a big 10km race walk and although he has been nursing a bad ankle injury he battled to a great 6th place finish. The field included all the worlds best walkers and it was an ideal race for Robert to test his early season form. Roberts training partner Francisco Fernandez won the race with Aussie Jared Tallent in 2nd.
Photos from Cavan
Togher athletes completed a memorable clubs cross-country season by taking home 36 All-Ireland medals, another team gold and a team silver at the 2nd leg of the All-Ireland Cross-Country Championships in Ballyhaise Co. Cavan. Held on a tough undulating course with some mucky patches, the athletes did both themselves and their club incredibly proud.
After some below par performances by some of the athletes in Tramore Racecourse two weeks ago, Togher athletes were out to prove a point. Alan Ring was the sole Togher competitor in the boy’s u13 race and in his first ever National championships, he performed very well.
The boy’s u15 team had very high goals for the season seeking to take the National team title. En route to the All-Ireland championships they won gold at both the Cork and Munster championships and were confident of further success. From the off the boys went out hard and were all in the top 50. Ian Hartnett continued his superb season running the race of his life leading the team home in 6th place. This was truly outstanding as Ian only joined the club last August. Behind Ian, the ever-consistent Ian Tobin was running like a man possessed. Ian showed true guts and determination to finish a fantastic 13th. The team scoring was completed by the great runs from Andrew O’ Keeffe 25th and James Kelleher 37th. Togher ended up level on 81 points with St Marys Limerick AC and lost the team title on countback. Cork were 2nd in the inter county team contest and Munster were 1st.
The boy’s u17 team lined up for their 4000m race in high spirits. They were the raining National champions and were looking to retain the title. That they did, in dramatic fashion. Captain Peter Hanrahan played a staring role leading the team home in 8th place and Patrick Coleman was right behind him coming a superb 13th. Brian Murray was very disappointed with his race in Tramore two weeks previous but came to Ballyhaise on a revenge mission. Brian didn’t disappoint and battled to a super 15th place finish. The ever-consistent Cullen Lynch completed the scoring in 38th place. Other outstanding runs came from Mark Seacy, Sean Barry, Rob O’ Shea, John Dorgan and Cillian Fleming. The team won the title easily with 74 points and Cork also won the inter county contest. Munster won the inter provincial contest also. Congratulations to the u17 team on a superb team win.
Our u19 team competed over 6000m and did very well finishing in 6th place. Alan O’ Brien gave a sterling performance leading the team home in 32nd place. Others to run well were Richard Quirke, Dave O’ Keeffe, Padraig Sweeney and Adam Kelleher. Cork were 2nd in the inter county team contest and Munster 2nd in the inter provincial contest.
Also racing this weekend was Robert Heffernan in Barcelona. Robert competed in a big 10km race walk and although he has been nursing a bad ankle injury he battled to a great 6th place finish. The field included all the worlds best walkers and it was an ideal race for Robert to test his early season form. Roberts training partner Francisco Fernandez won the race with Aussie Jared Tallent in 2nd.
Photos from Cavan
