Power and Colleran take wins in St Mary’s event

The 36th annual St Mary’s 5.5mile road race incorporating the Bernie Meaney Memorial Race was held at Kilmurry McMahon, organised by St Mary’s AC, on Sunday.

The race attracted a fine turnout of athletes, with Seamus Power (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) recording a big win in 25.50 from last year’s title holder, Jason Fahy (Olympic Harriers) and Brian Murphy (Ennis Track) with the Tommy McCarthy Cup going to Olympic Harriers ahead of last year’s title holders Ennis Track and Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare third.
Veronica Colleran (Ennis Track) was the big winner in the ladies’ race, when she captured the title in 32.13, with Marie Carey (Ennis Track) taking the runner up spot ahead of Tracy Guilfoyle (Kilnaboy) with Ennis Track taking the team title ahead Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare.
Title holder Jason Fahy set a lively pace along with Seamus Power and going towards Shaughnessy’s cross Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy) was leading the next chasing group that included Brian Murphy, Martin Grealish (both Ennis Track) and Martin Corcoran (Craughwell).
Power was in control on the downhill stretch to the finish and he came home with a very fast time.
There was another big performance from Ambrose Heagney (Kilnaboy) to capture the O-45 title in 31.41 with John Madigan second in 41.16. In the O-50s Tom Mackey (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) produced a big finish to take the title in 32.56 from John Convey (Fergus) and Ollie Gallagher (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) while in the O-55 section victory went to Michael Harvey (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) in 32.59 from Denis Meaney (St Mary’s) with the O-60s going to Tom Madden (Marian) in 33.41 from TJ Beatty (Loughrea).
The junior men’s title went to the local athlete Eoghan Grogan (St Mary’s) in 37. 20 and he was also the first St Mary’s novice athlete for the James Hanrahan Shield, beating the 2007 champion, Denis Meaney.
The team award for the Tommy McCarthy Cup was a fine contest, with Olympic Harriers recording a great victory with 27  points.
In the ladies’ race, Veronica Colleran had over a minute to spare on a fine field of competitors to take the title in 32.13, with Marie Carey second in 33.45 and Tracy Guilfoyle third in 34.36.
The team award went to Ennis Track with 20 points.
Sue Garrahy (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) won the masters ladies’ O-40 title in 37. 31, with the O-45 title going to Michelle O’Mahoney from Marie Fennessy (both Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare).

Results
Senior ladies
1. Veronica Colleran (Ennis Track) (32.13); 2. Marie Carey (Ennis Track) (33.45); 3. Tracy Guilfoyle (Kilnaboy)  (34.36).
Teams
1. (Ennis Track) 10 points.
2. (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) = 20 points.
Masters Ladies
O-40
1. Sue Garrahy (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) (37.31).
O-45
1. Michelle O’Mahoney (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) (35.42); 2. Marie Fennessy (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) (41.17).
Senior men
1. Seamus Power (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) (25.50).
2. Jason Fahy (Olympic Harriers) (26.54).
3. Brian Murphy (Ennis Track) (27.50).
Teams
1. (Olympic Harriers) = 27 points); 2. (Ennis Track) = 42 points; 3. (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) = 45 points.
Junior men
1. Eoghan Grogan (St Mary’s) (37.20)
Masters men O-40
1. Martin Corcoran (Craughwell) (29.20); 2. John O’Malley (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) (35.45).
O-45
1. Ambrose Heagney (Kilnaboy)  (31.41); 2. John Madigan (Ind) (41.16)
O-50
1. Tom Mackey (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) (32.56); 2. John Convey Fergus (36.49); 3. Ollie Gallagher (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) (40.28).
O-55
1. Michael Harvey (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) (32.59); 2. Denis Meaney (St Mary’s) (37.56); 3. Kevin O’Loughlin (Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare) (40.10).
O-60
1. Tom Madden (Marian) (33.41); 2. TJ Beatty (Loughrea) (41.28).
Novice men (confined to St Mary’s AC for the James Hanrahan Shield)
1. Eoghan Grogan (37.20); 2. Denis Meaney (37.56); 3. Dermot Moran (41.19).