Podium finishes for local duo in Charleville Half Marathon event
It was another busy week of athletics locally and across the region with the Charleville Half Marathon taking centre stage
Charleville Half Marathon
The focus of the weekend and many peoples' autumn was of course the 16th edition of the Charleville International Half Marathon.
While the Women’s race overall was won by Niamh Allen of Leevale in 1:10:47, there was podium finishers for Limerick’s Sorcha Nìc Domnaill and her sister Íde who were 2nd and 3rd Ladies in times of 1:13:04 and 1:15:57 respectively.
Deirdre Cassidy of Back 2 Boston was 17th in 1:27:44. John Kinsella of ‘Boston’ was first Limerickman, finishing 8th overall in 1:08:44, just ahead of Conor O’Brien of West Limerick who was 9th in 1:08:46.
Shane Eades of Limerick AC was a very honourable 17th in 1:11:12. Niall O’Riordan (West Limerick) was 28th in 1:13:14 with clubmates Declan Guina and Karl Lenihan home in 1:13:37 and 1:16:07 and helped West Limerick AC to second in the team standings.
Chris Foley clocked 1:14:49 for Back to Boston while Irish International John Travers of Donore was the overall men’s winner in 1:05:05.
There were several other strong performers from the various Limerick clubs and a selection included a PB of 1:19:18 for Dooneen’s J.P. Lawlor.
Other Dooneen times included Louise Matthews (first lady for the city club) 1:40:11, Kieran O’Brien 1:21:56, Niall Harris 1:22:23, Nicole Campbell 1:54:42, Finbar Aherne 1:32:35, Shane Lillis 1:33:32 (pb) and the legendary Eileen Reeves1:59:52.
For ‘Boston’ times included Aoife Noonan 1:38:44, Alex Kelly 1:30:14, Grace Fitzgerald, 1:34:19 and Colm Skeehan 1:22:14.
For Kilmallock, Donie Dwane 1:40:58, Tony McMahon 1:42:14, John Paul McCarthy 1:43:52 and Liz Fitzgerald 2:12:14.
Liam Smith (1:36:25), Gerry Prendergast (1:40:09) and Sharon Conway (2:01:16) were amongst those to represent An Brù while veteran Joe Chawke and Sineàd McDermott clocked 1:37:43 and 1:37:49 respectively.
Parkrun
Congratulations to Mungret Parkrun on their ‘8th birthday’ where Dooneen’s Declan Kennedy was first finisher in a time of 19:24 while Grace O’Shaughnessy was first Female in 21:54.
Here’s to another eight and more Mungret! Seamus Connoly (18:11) and Pamela Kirby (20:58) were first at UL.
Around the Country
Well done to Niall O Callaghan who was 3rd in the Tralee 10K in 33:22 and down under in Australia Dooneen’s Andrew McMahon was 3rd overall in the ‘Yarra Boulevard’ Half Marathon in 1:20:29.
Fixtures
The Limerick Senior, Intermediate and Juvenile Even Age Cross Country Championships is set for the Sunday 27th September at Bilboa’s ‘Old Quarry’ venue. The County Juvenile Uneven Age , U15, U17, Senior Mixed and Masters Mixed Relays take place on Sunday 8th November from 10:30 at the Newcastle West Showgrounds. The Cook Medical Mini Marathon, incorporating 5K and 10K distances, takes place on Sunday 4th October at UL.