Shannon and Colleran win in Kilmihil

THE third annual Dan O’Halloran Memorial 10km Fun Walk, Cycle and 10km Road Race in Kilmihil on Saturday attracted a turnout of 280 competitors from Galway, Dublin, Tipperary and Limerick, as well as members of the Clare 1992 Munster football champions. All proceeds from the event went to West Clare Cancer, Declan O’Shea Trust Fund and Milford Hospice.
In the senior race, competitors faced into a stiff hill as the leaders went through the 1km in 3.03. A group of six made an early break with Michael Shannon, Kilnaboy, setting a blistering pace along with Jake O’Regan, St John’s; Julio Cesear F Castro, Michael Kelly, Willie Devitt, all Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare and Damian Landers, St John’s.
Michael Shannon and Jake O’Regan went through the 4km mark in 12.29.
The leaders changed positions over the next 3km before Shannon made a decisive move at the 9km mark on the uphill stretch. He drove hard to take the Dan O’Halloran Cup and set a new course record of 31.45.
Jake O’Regan had to settle for the runner-up spot with a time of 31.54. There was a great performance from the King of the Hills champion in Sligo, Julio Cesear F Castro in third spot in 33.27.
Pat Healy, Marian, who came home in eighth spot, captured the O-40 title in 38.10 from David Ghilardi, Clare Crusaders and John Murphy, Kilmihil, with James Kenny, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare taking the O-50 title in 38.24 from Frank Garrihy, Ennis Track and Willie Keane, St John’s.
In the ladies’ race Anne Moore, Leevale AC, Cork set the early pace and was up with the chasing men’s pack for the first 2km with Veronica Colleran, Ennis Track chasing down the leader along with the 2010 champion, Marian Burke, St Mary’s; Michelle O’Halloran from Kilmihil, now running with Mullingar Harriers; Siobhán Lennon, Ennis Track and Eimear Power, Sportsworld.
Veronica Colleran made a big move at the halfway stage, along with Eimear Power and on the downhill stretch started to take control of the race. She opened up a good lead on the rest of the field over the final 3km to take the Dan O’Halloran Cup in 38.45.
Eimear Power finished second in 40.36, with Siobhán Lennon third in 40.42, taking the masters ladies O-40 title ahead of Anne Moore, Leevale and Marian Burke, St Mary’s.
The O-50 title went to Bernie Kelly, Galway City Harriers (47.45) from two Kilmihil girls, Bernie McSweeney and Pauline Hehir.

Results
Ladies: 1. Veronica Colleran (Ennis Track) (38.45); 2. Eimear Power (Sportsworld) (40.36); 3.  Michelle O’Halloran (Mullingar Harriers) (44.05).
O-40: 1. Siobhán Lennon (Ennis Track) (40.42); 2. Anne Moore (Leevale) (40.46); 3. Marian Burke (St Mary’s) (43.24).
O-50: 1. Bernie Kelly (Galway City Harriers) (47.45); 2. Bernie McSweeney (Kilmihil) (55.58); 3. Pauline Hehir (Kilmihil) (57.59).
Junior ladies: 1. Elie Quinn (Gort) (82.00)

Senior men: 1. Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy) (31.44); 2. Jake O’Regan (St John’s) (31.54); 3. Julio Cesear F Castro (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (33.27).
O-40: 1. Pat Healy (Marian) (38.10); 2. David Ghilardi (Clare Crusaders) (39.31); 3. John Murphy (Kilmihil) (40.08).
O-50: 1. James Kenny (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (38.24); 2. Frank Garrihy (Ennis Track) (40.45); 3. Willie Keane (St John’s) (41.45).
Junior men: 1. Eoin Callinan (Kilmihil) (45.55).