Murphy and Devane deliver blue chip performances in Dunboyne
Cliona Murphy (Dublin City Harriers) and Donal Devane (Ennis Track) highlighted a great day of racing at the Irish Life Health National Novice and Uneven Age Cross Country Championships at the Cow Park in Dunboyne this afternoon (December 15).
Cliona Murphy delivered a blue-chip performance to run away a comfortable winner in the women’s novice 4,000m while Donal Devane belied his tender age (19) to win the men’s novice 6,000m with a wily win.
The weather and the course held up well with the course naturally sticky but still providing plenty of running with Dunboyne proving wonderful hosts of the event.
Freya Renton (Westport) was the first winner of the day in the U11 girls 1500m which set the scene for some wonderful races and individual performances.
Emma Landers (Youghal) won the U17 4,000m with Niamh O’Mahony (An Riocht) producing a teak tough run to win the U19 girls’ 4,000m.
Scott Fagan (MSB) had to dig deep for a good win over Dean Casey (Ennis Track) in the boys’ U17 5,000m while Michael Morgan (Sligo) put in a classy display to pull away from the field in the U19 boys’ 6,000m and win with plenty of room to spare.
Cliona Murphy got going early in the women’s novice race and was never in danger of being headed as she navigated the twisty course comfortably. Hillary Hughes (unattached) was comfortable enough in second but Caron Ryan (Craughwell) just held off a lightning finish by Nadia Power who helped Dublin City Harriers to the team title.
There was plenty of ebb and flow in the men’s novice 6,000m with plenty of runners having a stab at running away from the field. Sligo’s JP Carty really split the pack but was reeled in and it was Donal Devane who didn’t show his cards until the end who held off Thomas Lupton (Portlaoise). Gerry Forde (Slaney) got up for third.
This rounded out the last major Athletics Ireland event for 2019 and Meath proved a wonderful setting once more – it’s the second year in a row the county has hosted the Novice and Uneven Ages.
Results
Irish Life Health National Novice and Uneven Age Cross Country Championships, Dunboyne
Women
U11 1500m
Freya Renton (Westport), 2. Emma Flynn (North Cork), 3. Erelle O’Sullivan (Shercock)
U13 2,500m
Emily Bolton (Donore Harriers), 2. Emer McKee (Willowfield Harriers), 3. Aoife Lillis (St Mary’s Clare)
U15 3,500m
Kirsti Foster (Willowfield), 2. Nicole Dinan (Leevale), 3. Gara Williams (MSB)
U17 4,000m
Emma Landers (Youghal), 2. Amy Greene (Rosses), 3. Roisin Kennedy (Ace)
U19 4,000m
Niamh O’Mahony (An Riocht), 2. Una O’Brien (Waterford), 3. Lucy O’Keeffe (Youghal)
Novice 4,000m
Cliona Murphy (DCH), 2. Hillary Hughes (unattached), 3. Caron Ryan (Craughwell)
Men
U11 1500m
Daniel Downey (Portlaoise), 2. Will Craig (St Michael’s), 3. Jake Bell (Mullingar Harriers)
U13 2,500m
Finn Duignan (St Cronan’s), 2. James Foot (Bray Runners), 3. Francis Donoghue (South Sligo)
U15 3,500m
Myles Hewlett (United Striders), 2. Jack McCausland (City of Lisburn), 3. David Williams (St Senan’s)
U17 5,000m
Scott Fagan (MSB), 2. Dean Casey (Ennis Track), 3. Sean Cotter (Craughwell)
U19 6,000m
Michael Morgan (Sligo), 2. Conall McLean (St Malachy’s), 3. Daniel Stone (Raheny Shamrock)
Novice 6,000m
Donal Devane (Ennis Track), 2. Thomas Lupton (Portlaoise), 3. Gerry Forde (Slaney Olympic)
