Humors of Tulla

By James Sexton

The Clare Athletics Association Senior Cross Country and Juvenile “B” championships for U/9 to U/15’s were held on the lands of the O’Donnell Family Tulla and hosted by Tulla Athletic Club in beautiful weather conditions and a massive turnout of athletes and spectators were treated with some very good running and Veronica Colleran Ennis Track Club showed a clean pair of heels to all her competitors and winning in fine style from Ellen Solan St Cronans and third was last years runner up Sue Garrahy Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare with Ennis Track Club retaining the Team Title for the third year in a row ahead Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare and Marian A.C.

Dermot Galvin St Johns was always working hard at the front to take this title ahead of Rory Chesser Ennis Track who is still in Junior ranks with Pat Nugent a very tough competitor taking the bronze medal with the All-Army Perpetual Cup and winning their third title Marian A.C. with (69pts) and just one point behind last years title holders Tulla on (70pts) and third were Ennis Track on (84pts) with Grade “B” Team Title going to St Johns second were Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare and third St Marys.

Their was a fine turnout in the Juvenile “B” Cross Country Championships and their were outstanding victories with Aine O’Looney Kilmihil a very impressive winner in the U/9's with Aishling Parra Haren Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare coming with a late burst to take the Silver medal and Cliona Blake running a great race to take the bronze medal with Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare taking the team title ahead of St Cronans and Ennis Track , in the Boys U/9’s another mighty contest this time Padraic Mc Namara Marian sprinting clear over the final 300metres to take the Gold Medal and the silver medal going to James Harrison Tulla and Ronan Grace St Cronans taking the bronze medal and Marian taking the Team Title who finished with (19pts) just one point ahead of Tulla and third were St. Cronans.

The girls U/11’s a master piece of front running and victory going to Eimear Hillary Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare and a very close second was Laura Egan Kilmihil with the bronze medal going to Aoifa O’Gorman Kilmihil with Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare easing taking the team title ahead of St Marys and Kilnaboy and in the boys U/11’s Niall Bolton came home in fine style to capture the gold medal from the fast finishing Cian O’Dea Kilnaboy and the bronze medal going to Todd Kelsey St Cronans with Tulla taking a very close team title ahead of Marian and St Cronans.

Roisin O’Looney Kilmihil produced one outstanding performance to lead all the way from the front and take the gold medal in the girls U/13’s with Lisa O’Connor Kilnaboy working hard to take the silver medal ahead of Tanya O’Shea St Johns with Kilnaboy capturing the Team Title ahead of St Johns and Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare and in the Boys U/13’s Eoin Brew St Johns was a very impressive winner ahead of Kevin Chesser and Mark O’Reilly both Ennis Track and they easily captured the team title ahead of Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare and St Johns.

Karen O’Brien St Cronans recorded a very big win when she captured the girls U/15’s title and their was a very good battle for the minor placings with Niamh Donnellan Kilmihil having to produce a big sprint to take the silver medal ahead of Marie Howard St Johns with the team title going to Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, and in the boys U/15’s a win here for Arron Kelly St Marys and a very good second Adrian Fitzpatrick St Marys with Kieran Leahy St Marys third with St Marys capturing the Team Title ahead of Kilnaboy.

The ladies race run over a distance of 5000metres and their was once again a hugh turnout of athletes with St. Marys, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, Ennis Track Club, St. Cronans, and Marian all very well represented, and this race was run over a two and half lap course and the underfoot conditions was ideal for fast running and on the first lap Veronica Colleran Ennis Track Club was taking the race along at a very good pace with the rest of the field settling in well and Ellan Solan St. Cronans, along with Ciara Hassett Marian and last years runner up Sue Garrahy Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare were all well tucked in behing the leader.

With one lap complete Ennis Track Club and Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare athletes were packing well Sharon Rynne Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare Marie Carey, Marion O’Loughlin, Deirdre Bolger all Ennis Track and Ann Marie Costello Marian all running in the top ten with Lorna O’Neill-O’Leary and Dympna O’Dwyer Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare along with Ciara Cleary St Marys all working hard to break up the Ennis Track Club dominance, approaching the half way stage Veronica Colleran had made a very decisive break from the pack and was now in complete control at the front and was going clear of the chasing group with Ellen Solan running one mighty race and making a big move to go clear of Sue Garrahy and the battle for team honours Ennis Track Club and Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare were on level terms going out for the final lap with Marian and St. Marys both battling for the minor placings.

The final lap the contest for the gold medal was well and truly over as Veronica Colleran Ennis Track Club was in top gear and just powering her way around the final lap and with every stride she was going further and further away as she crossed the finishing line to take the gold medal in some style and what a race by Ellen Solan to take the silver medal with last years runner up Sue Garrahy taking the bronze medal and fourth with a very impressive performance Ciara Hassett Marian and coming home in fifth spot with a very steady performance Sharon Rynne and a big finish for sixth position coming from Ann Marie Costello Marian.

The team title for Seamus Conlon Cup went once again to the title holders and for the third year in a row Ennis Track Club with (26pts) with 1st Veronica Colleran, 7th Marie Carey, 8th Deirdre Bolger, 10th Marion O’Loughlin, and a very good second were Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare on (29pts) and third Marian on (38pts).

The Clare Senior mens 10,000metres Championship always attracted the biggest field of athletes for the past number of years with all clubs having big representation on their teams, Clare is one of the top Counties in running numbers and on County Championship day this time almost fifty five athletes stud for one minute silence for the late Dermot Power Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare who passed away after a short illness a very keen sports athlete and was always at the fore front with his brother Seamus.

All clubs very well represented, St. Marys, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, Marian, Ennis Track Club, Tulla, with St Johns St. Marys and Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare competing in grade “B” and right from the start Dermot Galvin St Johns went to front for the first of the five laps and right on his shoulder was Rory Chesser Ennis Track who is still a Junior athlete and the master himself Pat Nugent running as and Individual was right up with the pace and so was Jeffrey O’Looney Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare and with one lap now complete these four had a ten metre lead on the next chasing group that included James Mc Intyre, James Murphy both Tulla, Sean Hehir Marian with Dermot Neylon Marian running the race of his life along with Brian Murphy Marian with the Team Captain Eugene Moynihan now running in the top ten Mike Solan Tulla and David Quinn Ennis Track were coming through and had now moved into the top Twelve.

The race was now at half way point and Dermot Galvin was working hard at the front and pushing out the pace with Rory Chesser not giving one metre away and Pat Nugent was making the leader work hard at the front as the pace dropped slightly and the Team title Tulla and Marian were having one mighty battle for the All Army Perpetual Cup with Ennis Track well back in third spot.

With just one lap to go and the bell for the leaders Dermot Galvin made one big drive and opened up that ten metres of a lead and on the downhill stretch he increased that lead as he crossed the finishing line in (35mins . 13secs) and what performance by Rory Chesser to capture the silver medal in (35mins . 26secs) with the master athlete Pat Nugent a very close third in (35mins . 46secs) with Jeffrey O’Looney running a very steady race to finish 4th and he followed home by James Mc Intyre and James Murphy both Tulla.

The Team Title was one mighty contest Marian A.C. packed well to win their third Senior Title their first in 1973 and their last in 1976 and thirty years was a long wait and they had six athletes in the top eighteen and Eugene Moynihan their team captain received the All-Army perpetual cup and their scoring six were 7th Sean Hehir, 8th Dermot Neylon, 9th Brian Murphy, 10th Eugene Moynihan, and the man that crawled over the line in 17th position Ronan Pyne and 18th John Peppard for a total of (69pts) just one point ahead of the County Champions Tulla on (70pts) third Ennis Track Club on (84pts).

The Grade “B” Title that went to St. Johns with 1st Dermot Galvin, 30th Enda Doyle, 33rd Brian Egan, 41st David O’Brien for a total of (105pts) with the silver medals going to Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare on (159pts) and the bronze medals to St Marys on (170pts).

Results:

Girls U/9:

1. Aine O’Looney Kilmihil

2. Ashline Parra Haren Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

3. Cliona Blake St. Johns

4. Aine Rouine Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

5. Sharon Egan Kilmihil

6. Tina Frohlich St Cronans

7. Eva O’Dea Kilnaboy

8. Aibha Hogan Ennis Track Club

9. Ellie Parra Haren Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

10. Catriona Searson Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

11. Jessica Leamy St Cronans

12. Aoibheann Hogan St. Cronans

Teams:

1. Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare (2 Ashline Parra Haren 4 Aine Rouine 9 Ellie Parra Haren) = 15 pts.

2. St Cronans (6 Tina Frohlic 11 Jessica Leamy 12 Aoibheann Hogan) = 29 pts.

3 Ennis Track Club (8 Ailbhe Hogan 16 Amy Hates 20 Marese Hayes) = 44 pts.

Girls U/11:

1. Emer Hillary Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

2. Laura Egan Kilmihil

3. Aoife O’Gorman Kilmihil

4. Aishling Corbett St Cronans

5. Lilly Guilfoyle Kilnaboy

6. Caoimhe McMahon Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

7. Sarah Meaney St Marys

8. Eleanor Hogan St Marys

9. Lisa Reidy Kilnaboy

10. Laura Meaney St Marys

11. Roisin Considine Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

12. Emer Lynch Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

Teams:

1. Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare (1 Emer Hillary 6 Caoimhe McMahon 11 Roisin Considine) = 18 pts.

2. St Marys (7 Sarah Meany 8 Eleanor Hogan 10 Sarah Meaney) = 25 pts.

3. Kilnaboy (5 Lilly Guilfoyle 9 Lisa Reidy 16 Orla O’Connor) = 30 pts.

Girls U/13:

1. Roisin O’Looney Kilmihil

2. Lisa O’Connor Kilnaboy

3. Tanya O’Shea St Johns

4. Charlotte O’Shea St Johns

5. Niamh O’Dea Kilnaboy

6. Aine Hurley Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

7. Meave Hogan Ennis Track Club

8. Chloe Curtin Kilnaboy

9. Ciara Ryan Kilnaboy

10. Niamh McMahon Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

11. Ailish Brew St Johns

12. Niamh Lyons Kilnaboy

Teams:

1. Kilnaboy (2 Lisa O’Connor 5 Niamh O’Dea 8 Chloe Curtin) = 15 pts.

2. St Johns (3 Tanya O’Shea 4 Charlotte O’Shea 8 Chloe Curtin) 18 pts.

3. Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare (6 Aine Hurley 10 Niamh McMahon 13 Louise Mackey) = 29 pts.

Girls U/15:

1. Karen O’Brien St Cronans

2. Niamh Donnellan Kilmihil

3. Marie Howard St Johns

4. Ann Griffin Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

5. Rachel Marrinan St Marys

6. Michelle Malone Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

7. Rachel Bleach Tulla

8. Mellisa McCarthy Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

Teams:

1. Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare (4 Ann Griffin 6 Michelle Malone 8 Mellissa McCarthy) = 18 pts.

Senior 5000M.

1. Veronica Colleran Ennis Track Club (20 : 39)

2. Ellen Solon St Cronans (21 : 30)

3. Sue Garrahy Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare (22 : 00)

4. Ciara Hassett Marian (22 : 44)

5. Sharon Rynne Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare (23 : 24)

6. Ann Marie Costelloe Marian (23 : 25)

7. Marin Carey Ennis Track Club (23 : 28)

8. Deirdre Bolger Ennis Track Club (23 : 30)

9. Lorna O’ Leary Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare (23 : 36)

10. Marian O’Loughlin Ennis Track Club (24 : 05)

11. Ciara Cleary St Mary (24 : 11)

12. Dympna O’Dwyer Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare (24 :23)

Teams:

1. Ennis Track Club (1 Veronica Colleran 7 Marie Carey 8 Deirdre Bolger 10 Marian O’Loughlin) = 26 pts.

2. Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare (3 Sue Garrahy 5 Sharon Rynne 9 Lorna O’Leary 12 Dympna O’Dwyer) = 29 pts.

3. Marian (4 Ciara Hassett 6 Ann Marie Costello 13 Mary Lynch 15 Cushla Murphy Hehir) = 38 pts.

4. St Marys (11 Ciara Cleary 18 Hillary Cunningham 19 Edel Fitzpatrick 21 Emer Greene) = 69 pts.

Boys U/9:

1. Padraic McNamara Marian

2. James Harrison Tulla

3. Ronan Grace St Cronans

4. Padraigh Malone Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

5. David Sheehy St Cronans

6. Michael Lyons Kilnaboy

7. Shane Hunt Tulla

8. Darragh Crimmins Marian

9. Fergal Donnellan Kilmihil

10. Tiernan McDermott Marian

11. Darragh Murphy Tulla

12. Rona Harrison Tulla

Teams:

1. Marian (1 Padraig McNamara 8 Darragh Crimmins 10 Tiernan McDermott) = 19 pts.

2. Tulla (2 James Harrison 7 Shane Hunt 11 Darragh Murphy) = 20 pts.

3. St Cronans (3 Ronan Grace 5 David Sheehy 23 Conor Sheehy) = 31 pts.

Boys U/11:

1. Niall Bolton Tulla

2. Cian O’Dea Kilnaboy

3. Todd Kelsey St Cronans

4. Jack O’Dea Kilnaboy

5. Dillion Quirke Ennis Track Club

6. Nicolas Twumasi Marian

7. Padraigh Mulconroy Tulla

8. Fergal Connellan Tulla

9. Jacob Loughnane Marian

10. Colin Crowley St. Johns

11. Eoin Hurley Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

12. Darren Nagle Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

Teams:

1. Tulla (1 Niall Bolton 7 Padraigh Mulconroy 8 Fergal Connellan) = 28 pts.

2. Marian (6 Nicolas Twumasi 9 Jacob Loughnane 15 Cian Cummins) = 30 pts.

3. St Cronans (3 Todd Kelsey 16 Seamus Nugent 17 Brian Cahill ) = 36 pts.

Boys U/13:

1. Eoin Brew St Johns

2. Kevin Chesser Ennis Track Club

3. Mark O’Reilly Ennis Track Club

4. Noel Garry Kilmihil

5. John Organ Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

6. Alan Griffin Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare

7. Padraigh Nugent St Cronans

8. Jack Scanlon St Johns

9. Jack Neylon Marian

10. Shane McGrath Tulla

11. Danny Colleran Ennis Track Club

12. Martin Flannagan KilmurryIbk/Nth Clare

Teams:

1. Ennis Track Club (2 Kevin Chesser 3 Mark O’Reilly 11 Danny Colleran) = 16 pts.

2. Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare (5 John Organ 6 Alan Griffin 12 Martin Flanagan) = 23 pts.

3. St Johns (1 Eoin Brew 8 Jack Scanlon 19 Martin Daly) = 28 pts.

Boys U/15:

1. Aaron Kelly St Mary

2. Adrian Fitzpatrick St Marys

3. Kieran Leahy St Marys

4. Cillian Bane Tulla

5. Colin Colin Burke Kilnaboy

6. Kieran O’Leary Kilnaboy

7. Shane O’Loughlin Kilnaboy

8. Brian O’Connor Kilnaboy

Teams:

1. St Marys (1 Aaron Kelly 2 Adrian Fitapatrick 3 Kieran Leahy) = 6 pts..

2. Kilnaboy (5 Colin Burke 6 Kieran O’Leary 7 Shane O’Loughlin) =18 pts.

Senior Men:

1. Dermot Galvin St Johns (35 : 13)

2. Rory Chesser Ennis Track Club ((35:26)

3. Pat Nugent Individual (35 : 46)

4. Jeffrey O’Looney Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare (36 : 09)

5. James McIntyre Tulla (36 : 46)

6. James Murphy Tulla (36 : 56)

7. Sean Hehir Marian (37 : 41)

8. Dermot Neylon Marian (37 : 46)

9. Brian Murphy Marian (37 : 48)

10. Eugene Moynihan Marian (37 : 52)

11. Mick Solan Tulla (38 : 02)

12. David Quinn Ennis Track Club (38 : 08)

Team:

1. Marian (7 Sean Hehir 8 Dermot Neylon 9 Brian Murphy 10 Eugene Moynihan 17 Ronan Pyne 18 John Peppard) = 69 pts.

2. Tulla (5 James McInyre 6 James Murphy 11 Mike Solan 13 James Liddane 14 Ivan O’Connell 21 David Moloney) = 70 pts.

3. Ennis Track Club (2 Rory Chesser 12 David Quinn 15 Martin Grealish 16 Paul Walsh 19 Seosamh O’Loughlin 24 Frank Garrihy) = 84 pts.

Teams Grade “B”:

1. St Johns (1 Dermot Galvin 30 Enda Doyle 33 Brian Egan 41 David O’Brien) = 105 pts.

2. Kilmurry Ibk/Nth Clare (34 John Lanagan 39 Thomas Garrahy 40 Enda Malone 46 Dean Flanagan) = 159 pts.

3. St Marys (41 Kevin McMahon 44 Michael McMahon 47 Damien Hill 48 Patrick Normoyle) = 170 pts.