Mackey and Murphy win in Tulla

The Tulla 8k fun run and walk in aid of the Children’s Hospital, Tallaght and Pieta House attracted a fine turnout of 110 competitors, along with walkers.

In the first lap, two athletes set a fast pace, Mike Cunningham (Bilboa) and Gerard Daly (Whitegate) with James Murphy who hails from Kilkishen and runs with Crusaders AC, Dublin, in the second chasing group along with Alan O’Keeffe another Tulla native, running with Rathfarnham AC WSAF and Paul Fitzgerald (Shannon). They went through the 2k mark in 6.30 and for the next mile Mike Cunningham, the early leader, was drifting off the pace with James Murphy making a big move towards the leader, along with Alan O’Keeffe.

Gerard Daly was looking very comfortable at the halfway, with James Murphy right on his shoulder. Over the second half of the race the lead changed on a few occasions and it was James Murphy who claimed victory in 25.58, just four seconds ahead of Gerard Daly (26.02) and Alan O’Keeffe (26.31).

There was a fine turnout of ladies and the early pacesetter was Loretto Duggan (St Mary’s), who went through the 1k mark in 4.03. She had a few metres of a lead on Noreen Mackey (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare), Anne Murray (Flagmount) and Carmel Mac Domhnaill (West Limerick). These four were well clear at the 3k mark with Ann Reidy Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) and Laura Nolan (Tulla) settling in well as they made their way towards the Gort Road Junction.

Duggan was coming under pressure from Noreen Mackey on the main Gort-Tulla road and the Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare athlete pushed on over the final mile to claim victory in a time of 31.31, with Loretto Duggan second in 33.06 and Anne Murray taking third spot in 33.50.

Results
Ladies
1 Noreen Mackey (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (31.31); 2 Loretto Duggan (St Mary’s) (33.06); 3 Anne Murray (Flagmount) (33.50); 4 Carmel Mac Domhnaill (West Limerick) (33.52).
Senior men
1 James Murphy Crusaders (25.58); 2 Gerard Daly (Whitegate) (26.02); 3 Alan O’Keeffe (Rathfarnham AC WSAF) (26.31); 4 Mike Cunningham (Bilboa) (27.06).