Munster Cross-Country championships
Date: 9/11/08
Togher athletes continued their superb Cross-Country season winning three more team titles at the 2nd leg of the Munster Cross-Country championships at a wet and wintry Co. Clare venue today. Conditions at Cooraclare were appalling to say the least. The athletes were faced with a very testing course that was covered in mud and add to that strong winds and rain.
This did not deter the clubs athletes as they set out to complete the clean sweep of Munster team titles from u14-u19. First into action was the u13 team who found the conditions very tough and eventually finished in a creditable 6th place. These are the youngest athletes in the club and have just begun cross-country racing for the first time this year. No doubt they will improve in time.
The u15 team has big ambitions this year seeking to become National team champions. They proved today that will be hard to beat in Cavan on December 7th by convincingly winning the team title with 4 athletes in the top 10. This was a superb team performance and they were led home by an inspirational 2nd place finish by Ian Hartnett. He was backed up by super runs from Ian Tobin 7th, Emmet Bracken 8th and James Kelleher returning after 2 weeks off due to illness in 10th place. Behind them other great runs came from Andrew O’ Keeffe and John Durcan. Cork were 2nd in the inter county team contest.
The u17 team raced over 4000m and again showed their class and their ambition of retaining their All-Ireland title by winning with 32 points. The team had 4 athletes in the top 13 with superb performances from Peter Hanrahan 2nd, Patrick Coleman 5th, Brian Murray 12th and Cullen Lynch 13th. The ‘B’ team came a fantastic 3rd with superb runs from Rob O’ Shea, Mark Seacy, John Dorgan, Sean Barry and Cillian Fleming. Cork were 1st in the inter county team race.
Finally the u19 team continued the clubs impressive racing taking the u19 team tile and the ‘B’ team coming 2nd. The team packed very well with great races from Dave O’ Keeffe 6th, Richard Quirke 7th, Padraig Sweeney 8th and Adam Kelleher 9th. Other great runs from Alan O’ Brien, Cormac Lehane and Alex Kelly.
So that completes the Munster Championships for 2008 and all the athletes are now looking forward to the National Championships in Waterford on November 23rd and Cavan on December 7th. The club will have u14, u15, u16 ‘A’ & ‘B’, u17 ‘A’ & ‘B’, u18 ‘A’ & ‘B’ and u19 ‘A’ & ‘B’ teams competing.
Teams for both All-Irelands will be named during the week.
Photos from Clare
Togher athletes continued their superb Cross-Country season winning three more team titles at the 2nd leg of the Munster Cross-Country championships at a wet and wintry Co. Clare venue today. Conditions at Cooraclare were appalling to say the least. The athletes were faced with a very testing course that was covered in mud and add to that strong winds and rain.
This did not deter the clubs athletes as they set out to complete the clean sweep of Munster team titles from u14-u19. First into action was the u13 team who found the conditions very tough and eventually finished in a creditable 6th place. These are the youngest athletes in the club and have just begun cross-country racing for the first time this year. No doubt they will improve in time.
The u15 team has big ambitions this year seeking to become National team champions. They proved today that will be hard to beat in Cavan on December 7th by convincingly winning the team title with 4 athletes in the top 10. This was a superb team performance and they were led home by an inspirational 2nd place finish by Ian Hartnett. He was backed up by super runs from Ian Tobin 7th, Emmet Bracken 8th and James Kelleher returning after 2 weeks off due to illness in 10th place. Behind them other great runs came from Andrew O’ Keeffe and John Durcan. Cork were 2nd in the inter county team contest.
The u17 team raced over 4000m and again showed their class and their ambition of retaining their All-Ireland title by winning with 32 points. The team had 4 athletes in the top 13 with superb performances from Peter Hanrahan 2nd, Patrick Coleman 5th, Brian Murray 12th and Cullen Lynch 13th. The ‘B’ team came a fantastic 3rd with superb runs from Rob O’ Shea, Mark Seacy, John Dorgan, Sean Barry and Cillian Fleming. Cork were 1st in the inter county team race.
Finally the u19 team continued the clubs impressive racing taking the u19 team tile and the ‘B’ team coming 2nd. The team packed very well with great races from Dave O’ Keeffe 6th, Richard Quirke 7th, Padraig Sweeney 8th and Adam Kelleher 9th. Other great runs from Alan O’ Brien, Cormac Lehane and Alex Kelly.
So that completes the Munster Championships for 2008 and all the athletes are now looking forward to the National Championships in Waterford on November 23rd and Cavan on December 7th. The club will have u14, u15, u16 ‘A’ & ‘B’, u17 ‘A’ & ‘B’, u18 ‘A’ & ‘B’ and u19 ‘A’ & ‘B’ teams competing.
Teams for both All-Irelands will be named during the week.
Photos from Clare
