All roads led to Faugheen, Carrick-on-Suir on Sunday for the County Intermediate Road Championships with our ladies once again out in force with 12 athletes competing in the 4k event while our men took a rare day off with many committed to other events and activities.
Over 40 athletes took part in the ladies event which was a huge credit to all concerned and made for a very interesting and competitive race. Right from the start Lorraine Healy, Sarah Healy and Angela Fogarty were amongst the leading group which numbered up to 10 athletes from Clonmel, Moreabbey Milers, Dundrum, Thurles Crokes and Moyne. This would set the scene for the next two kilometres when Kealy Tideswell, Clonmel broke clear and with Lorraine now in a group of four athletes it was all to run for. Kealy was not to be caught and on entering the village the minor placings were still up for grabs with Lorraine pushing hard and her determination brought her from third to second in those final metres to cross the line in a brilliant second place in 15.49. Lorraine is to be commended on this performance as it was sheer pressure for her throughout the race being in that group of four athletes, added to the step up in competition from her Novice victory, but she coped magnificently and her silver medal is just reward for all her hard work. Angela, fresh from her victory in the Novice “B” last weekend, was also going to be under pressure to produce another top class run and she duly obliged with a great finish to cross the line in 6th place in 16 mins even. With the rest of the field all strung out over that final kilometre and nothing separating the majority of them it was Sarah who completed the club team in a thoroughly deserving 14th place in 17.11. This combined score of 22 points was good enough to see the girls win the silver medals in the team competition and shows the upward direction the club is taking as they were bronze medal winners in this same event last year.
As already stated above the athletes were strung out around the course over the final kilometre and it was a very competitive finish for most of the athletes as they pushed hard for the line. Susan Fogarty was our next athlete across the line in 20th in 17.41 closely followed by Kate Harrison in 21st in 18.12. Frances Long came through for 25th in 18.21 while Sharon Kiely and Sinead Tynan pushed each other hard to finish 31st and 32nd timed at 19.15 and 19.22. Deirdre Kearney fought off the strong challenge of Ber Spillane to finish 34th in 19.38 with Ber taking the 35th spot in 19.38. Breda McNamara and Catherine Dunne completed the squad in 40th and 42nd respectively in 20.30 and 21.42. Well done to each and every one of the ladies for their commitment and in a race where they faced a particularly strong wind and unseasonably warm air they all coped admirably and kept the flag flying proudly for the club.
