Athletics
Kevin O’Donnell’s fields in Bramblestown proved an excellent venue for this year’s senior cross-country championships. The 2K course which crisscrossed the fields, had four challenging hills, but with good underfoot conditions and fine weather, the runners could have few complaints.
The senior ladies competed over one-and-a-half laps of the course. In total, nineteen ladies, representing six clubs, went to the start line. First to take the lead was Ann Doyle, Gowran. Ann held the lead for one third of the way but entering the second third of the race, she was passed by a succession of runners.
Showing very prominently at this stage were Ciara Everard and Caoimhe Foley, both Kilkenny City Harriers. Last year’s winner, Adele Walsh, St Senan’s was still in the reckoning but entering the final phase of the race, Everard cut loose and headed for home at a canter. Foley made it a one, two, for KCH with Walsh finishing in bronze position. KCH, with Maria Murphy finishing strongly in 6th and Irene Henebry 8th, with a points total of 17, were the first team and regained the cup which they last won in 2005. St Joseph’s the 2006 winners were second with 42 points and Aughavillar, last year’s winners were third. Other placings were as follows:- 4 Cait Caulfield, St Senan’s; 5 Mary Doolin, St Joseph’s; 7 Eileen FitzPatrick, Aughavillar; 9 Verena Fenlon, St Joseph’s; 10 Ann Doyle, Gowran; 11 Teresa Daly, KCH; 12 Ann Power, Aughavillar; 13 Bernadette Doolin, St Joseph’s; 14 Mairead Power, Aughavillar; 15 Sally Forristal, St Joseph’s; 16 Catherine Langton-Maher, St Joseph’s; 17 Kate Millea, KCH; 18 Fiona Phelan, Aughavillar, 19 Tracy Malone, St Joseph’s.
The men had five laps of the same course. The rivalry between city club, KCH, and Gowran was renewed. Last year, both teams finished on 27 points with KCH being declared winners on count back. Thirty runners went to the start line. Gowran, the host club, with twelve athletes, had the largest contingent. From the off, they put down a marker when their number one man, Tommy Evans, hit the front. Eoin Everard and Brian Maher, both KCH, were on his heels. By the half-way stage, Maher and Everard had moved ahead of Evans and it seemed that the city club were on course to retain the senior shield. These three were well ahead of the field which by now was strung out right around the course.
Maher, about whom there had been doubts concerning his fitness prior to the race, now seemed to gain new vigour. By the final lap, he had opened up a considerable gap on club-mate Everard. But behind these two, there was an interesting situation developing. Evans, while he had dropped back, was still well-placed for individual bronze. Gowran’s new acquisition, Paul Deegan, had moved into 4th place and next in line came two more Gowran men, Niall Sheehan and new signing, Kevin Fenlon battling for 5th and 6th. Sheehan proved the faster on the run in leaving the Gowran club with an ideal set of team placings 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th giving them an unassailable total of 17 points. Unassailable that is from the point of view of rivals, KCH. With Maher at number 1, Everard at 2, Paul Cody at 8, Toss Hayes at 9 and Mick Dore at 10 for good measure, the city club were on 20 points. A seven point improvement on 2008, but only sufficient for the silver medals because Gowran came home with a nine point improvement. Veteran athletes, Sean Caulfield, St Senan’s and Lar Lacey and Peter Duggan, St Joseph’s mixed it well with the younger runners. Their respective placings were 7th, 11th and 12th. The other places were as follows:- 13 Colin Butler, St Senan’s; 14 Eddie Moloney, KCH; 15 Patrick Bookle, 16 Michael Power, both St Joseph’s; 17 Neil Lyons, Gowran; 18 David Larkin, St Joseph’s; 19 David McPherson, KCH; 20 Muiris Bric, Gowran; 21 Henry Langton, St Joseph’s; 22 Denis Cormack, Gowran; 23 John Paul Comerford, Gowran; 24 Rocky Mernagh, St Joseph’s; 25 Marty Kelly, 26 Toddy Farrell, 27 Larry McGrath and 28 Fergal Foley all from Gowran.
