Chesser and Power take titles at St Mary’s

The Bernie Meaney Memorial and the 38th annual St Mary’s 5k road race were held at Kilmurry McMahon, organised by St Mary’s AC.

 

Rory Chesser (Ennis Track) recorded a big win in the windy and wet conditions with a time of 15.54 from Michael Shannon (St John’s) and Damian Landers (St John’s).

Six athletes made an early break with Chesser setting a good lively pace along with Shannon, Landers, Dermot Galvin (St John’s), Julio Cesear F Castro (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) and James McIntyre (Bridge Milers/Olympic Harriers).

At the 2km mark, the chasing group of Brian Murphy, Stephan Rooney (Ennis Track) and Willie Devitt (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) were working hard to close the gap on the leaders but Chesser was beginning to stamp his authority on this race. On the final mile he was in complete control and had 20 seconds on Michael Shannon, with the Munster Novice Cross Country champion, Damian Landers home in 16.47.

The Tommy Mc Carthy Cup went to St John’s on 24 points ahead of Ennis Track on 32 points and Bridge Milers/Olympic Harriers on 39.

The masters men’s title O-40 went to Kevin Shalloo (St John’s) after a great battle with Pat Healy (Marian) and Cathal Talty (Fergus). The O-45 title went to Pat Hogan (Ennis Track) ahead of his clubmates Pat Morrissey and Jim Carrigan with the O-50 going to Aidan Cabey (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) from John Convey (Fergus AC) and Ollie Gallagher (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare).

O-55 was won by Tom Mackey (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) who retained the title ahead of clubmates Michael Harvey and James Sexton, with the O-60 going to Tommy Madden (Marian) from Denis Meaney (St Mary’s).

The junior men’s title went to Stephan Rooney (Ennis Track) who finished eighth overall in 17.16 from Ian Slobody (Kilmihil) and Padraig Malone (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare).

Eimear Power (Sportsworld) captured the ladies’ title in 19.56 with Cushla Brid Hehir (Ennis Track) second in 20.10, followed by Jackie O’Connor (Ennis Track) in 20.44.

Ennis Track won the team title on nine points from Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare on 25 and Galway City Harriers on 38 points.

Hehir and Power settled in well with the leading men going through the 1km mark in 3.40. They had this field in single file as they made their way towards the 3k mark with Jackie O’Connor working hard to close the gap and Becky Coughlan (Ennis Track) making good progress along with Sarah Gayer.

The masters ladies O-40 went to Maggie Malone (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) in 24.06 from Hillary Cunningham (St Mary’s) and April Jarocka (West Clare Tri Club) with the O-45 going to Sue Garrihy (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) in 22.22 followed by Catherine Kenny and Mary Greellon (Galway City Harriers).

The O-50 went to Rita Kierce (St Mary’s) in 22.56 followed by Bernie Kelly (Galway City Harriers) and Ita O’Mahoney (Fit for Life Galway).

The junior ladies went to Elaine Shannon (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) in 22.41 from Ailbhie Morrissey (Ennis Track).

Results
Senior Ladies (5k): 1 Eimear Power, Sportsworld (19.56), 2 Cushla Brid Hehir, Ennis Track (20.10); 3 Jackie O’Connor, Ennis Track (20.44); 4 Becky Coughlan, Ennis Track (21.33); 5 Sarah Gayer, Ind (21.57); 6 Niamh Hennelly, Galway City Harriers (22.31).
Teams: 1 Ennis Track = 9pts; 2 Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare = 25pts; 3 Galway City Harriers = 38pts.
Masters Ladies
O-40: 1 Maggie Malone, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (24.06); 2 Hillary Cunningham, St Mary’s (27.51); 3 April Jarocka, West Clare Tri Club (35.05); O-45: 1 Sue Garrahy, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (22.22); 2 Catherine Kenny, Galway City Harriers (29.35); 3 Mary Greellon, Galway City Harriers (30.57); O-50: 1 Rita Kierce, St Mary’s (22.56); 2 Bernie Kelly, Galway City Harriers (24.09); 3 Ita O’Mahoney, Fit For Life Galway (30.56).
Junior Ladies: 1 Elaine Shannon, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (22.41); 2 Ailbhie Morrissey, Ennis Track (27.02).

Senior Men: 1 Rory Chesser, Ennis Track (15.54); 2 Michael Shannon, St John’s (16.13); 3 Damian Landers, St John’s (16.47); 4 Dermot Galvin, St John’s (16.55); 5 Julio Cesear F Castro, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (17.05); 6 James McIntyre, Bridge Milers Olympic Harriers (17.10).
Teams: 1 St John’s (2, 3, 4, 15) = 24pts; 2 Ennis Track (1, 7, 8, 16) = 32pts; 3 Bridge Milers/Olympic Harriers (6. 9. 11. 13) = 39pts.
Masters Men
O-40: 1 Kevin Shalloo, St John’s (19.16); 2 Pat Healy, Marian (19.25); 3 Cathal Talty, Fergus (22.14); O-45: 1 Pat Hogan, Ennis Track (19.17); 2 Pat Morrissey, Ennis Track (19.51); 3 Jim Carrigan, Ennis Track (20.13); O-50: 1 Aidan Cabey, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (21.39); 2 John P Convey Fergus (21.56); 3 Ollie Gallagher, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (24.02); O-55: 1 Tom Mackey, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (20.06); 2 Michael Harvey, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (20.44); 3 James Sexton, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (21.22); O-60: 1 Tom Madden, Marian (20.45); 2 Bernie Meaney, St Mary’s (22.31).
Junior Men: 1 Stephan Rooney, Ennis Track (17.16); 2 Ian Slobody, Kilmihil (18.51); 3 Padraigh Malone, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare (20.17).
Novice men confined to Mary’s AC for the James Hanrahan Shield: 1 Michael Kenny (21.58); 2 Denis Meaney (22.31); 3 Martin McMahon  (22.41); 4 Michael Kirrane (22.52); 5 Keith Ranalow (23.03); 6 John O’Connell (24.08).