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Outstanding Talent Honoured At Offaly Athletics Awards Night

Thursday, 10 February 2011

Pictured at the Offaly Athletics Awards were Conor Mulligan, Ann Keenan Buckley, James Mulligan

THE annual Offaly Athletics awards night took place on Friday night when presentations were made to the outstanding performers in 2010.
The awards were presented by international athlete, Anne Keenan-Buckley, who was the Irish Team Manager for the recent European Cross Country Championships where our Men's Under 23 team took the gold medals. However, Anne also had a long and illustrious career as an athlete. She competed in the 1988 Olympic Games. She also finished a magnificent 10th in the World Cross Country Championships in 2002 , helping Ireland win the bronze team medals. Anne won her first National Senior Inter Club Cross Country Championship at the age of 38, having been second seven times prior to that, and then went on to win the National Cross County Championships twice more.  Amongst her many outstanding performances was a 9th  place finish in the European Cross Country Championships. She finished her career in 2004 when helping the Irish team win the silver medals at the European Cross Country Championships. 
The following award winners were honoured on the night:
International Athletes:
Liam Brady
Gordon Kennedy
Ger Hensey
Eoin Hannon
John Harkin
Cormac Troy
Catch Grennan
Eileen Rafter
Juvenile Athletes of the Year
Male
James Mulligan (Winner)
Connor Mulligan (Runner up)
Female
Eileen Rafter (Winner)
Kelley Cunningham (Runner up)
The following citations were read about the award winners:
Liam Brady
Liam Brady made his international debut in January 2010 with a great run in the Celtic International Under 20 Cross Country race in Belfast. He finished fourth overall and was the top Irish finisher. His second international appearance came in the U-20 cross country race at the Lotto Cross Cup on Mol, Belgium where he was narrowly pipped for an individual medal, having fallen at the start of the race, when he again finished fourth. He did, however, have the consolation of being on the Irish team that won the team event. In cross country, Liam had a memorable victory in the National U-19 race in Tullamore recently and finished 4th in the National Inter-Club U-20 race. Representing his school, St. Brendan's, Birr he won the Senior Boys race at the Leinster Schools Cross Country and took third place in the Irish Schools Cross Country Championships. On the track, he won the National U-19 3,000m event and was third in the 1,500m. He won the Leinster Junior 1,500m and U-19 3,000m titles. He finished second in the Leinster Schools 5,000m and third in the Steeplechase before going on to finish fourth in the Irish Schools Senior Boys 5,000m final.
Liam is son of Kevin and Mary Brady, Rathmore, Sharavogue, Birr and is coached in Tullamore Harriers by Robert Denmead.
Eoin Hannon
Eoin opened his 2010 season winning the Long Jump at the AAI Games in Nenagh with a jump of 7.18metes. His next outing was in Belfast at the National Senior Indoor Championships where he won the Gold medal and his first National Indoor title when he jumped a new indoor PB of 7.40metres. He was then selected on the Irish team for the Celtic Cup in Cardiff. Eoin concluded his Indoor season with a jump of 7.33metres to finish in 2nd place overall.
He opened his Outdoor season winning the Universities title with a jump of 7.40metres. He then competed in the Bedford International Games where he finished in 2nd place again with a jump of 7.40metres. He was selected on the Irish team for the European Cup Track and Field Championships which were held in Budapest in Hungry on 20th June. At this International Eoin opened his account with a jump of 7.35metres. Unfortunately he then suffered injury and was forced to withdraw from the competition.
His first round jump earned him 10th place overall in the competition.
Eoin recovered from this injury and went on to compete in the National Senior Championships in Santry. There Eoin completed the first half of a great double for Tullamore Harriers when he won his first National Senior Title with a jump of 7.32metres. Eoin was also part of the Tullamore Harriers senior 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m teams who won the national title in both events.
Gordon Kennedy
Gordon had a truly memorable season in 2010. His indoor season was curtailed due to injury.
So he opened his 2010 campaign at the end of May at the British Intercounty Championships in Bedford where he won his 400m race in a time 47.90seconds. He went on to Copenhagen on 5th June where he won the Grand Prix 400m race in a time of 47.36. Gordon then went chasing the European Championship qualifying standard of 46.65.
A week later he was back in Holland where at the Golden Spike meeting in Leiden he again won the 400m in a time of 46.87. He was selected on the Irish team for the European Cup Track and Field Championships in Budapest where he ran in the 4 x 400m relay team which finished in 2nd place in a time of 3.07.07seconds. Gordon then competed in the Cork City Sports where he finished in 3rd place in a time of 46.95secs. On July 9th he travelled to Berlin for another Grand Prix meeting where he finished in 2nd place in a time of 46.82secs. The following day he travelled back to Dublin and that afternoon competed in the heats of the National Senior Championships in Santry qualifying for the final by winning his heat. The final on Sunday was the race of the day. Gordon ran a tactically brilliant 400m race to win his second Senior National Title and as the clock stopped at 46.57 seconds to everybody's delight Gordon had achieved his ambition of qualifying for the European Championships in Barcelona
Two weeks later the heat of Barcelona Gordon ran a great race out of lane 3 to qualify for the semi final in a time of 46.63seconds. He was back on the Track the following morning for the semi final and from the difficult Lane 1 where he ran an excellent time of 46.72 to rank him 12th overall in competition. Gordon was selected on the Irish 4 x 400m relay team for the championships and he ran a great first leg to put the Irish team into 3rd place, they unfortunately lost ground in the final leg to finish in 6th place. Gordon, like Eoin, was part of the Tullamore Harriers 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relay teams who won the National Titles in both Indoor and Outdoor events in 2010
Ger Hensey
2010 was record breaking year for Ger Hensey
Ger opened his season at the AAI Indoor games in Nenagh and gave us a glimpse of what was to come when he equaled the M40 National Record in a time of 7.40. On the same day he put in his fastest 200m for five years winning his race in a time of 24.47. He went on then to the National Masters in Nenagh winning an incredible 3 National titles in the sprint events. He won the 60m in a time of 7.45 seconds, the 200m in a time of 24.92 seconds and won the 400m in a time of 55.50seconds.
He followed this up a week later by winning Gold at the Leinster Indoors in a championship best performance of 7.45seconds. The following week he travelled to Belfast where he finished 4th in his heat of the 60m, again in a time of 7.45.
Ger then settled down to 5 weeks of intense training and at the end of February travelled to Kamloops in British Columbia in Canada to compete in the World Masters Indoor Track and Field. Ger kicked off his challenge in the heats of the 60m Sprint which he won in an astonishing new Irish record time of 7.31seconds. A few hours later Ger brought this time down to 7.30secs. when he qualified for the final coming a close 2nd to William McGee of Great Britain. And so to the Final. On Tuesday 2nd of March 2010 Ger got into the blocks for the start of the World Championships Final and for the 2nd year in a row a World Championship medal winged its way back to Tullamore. Ger ran a brilliant race to take the silver medal in a time of 7.33 beaten only by the United States champion Reggie Pendland and relegating British champion William McGee to the bronze medal position
Ger then set about preparing for the European Masters Championships and having run a new Masters record and a PB of 23.33 in the 200m at the Dublin Championships he suffered an unfortunate injury which brought his season to a close.
The Silver medal at the World Championships really is the culmination of a great running career for an athlete who has been an inspiration and a role model for every sprinter in Tullamore Harriers.
John Harkin
John Harkin receives his award tonight in recognition of his selection for the Irish team that competed in the British and Irish Masters Cross Country Championships. John gained selection on the basis of a sixth place finish in the Gerry Farnan trial race. In the International race held in Santry, John revelled in the soft underfoot conditions to finish in tenth place overall and was second Irishman on the team that won the bronze medals.
2010 was also the year that John took his first foray into mountain running when he finished in fifth place in the European trials held in Wicklow. This resulted in John been selected to run in the prestigious Snowdown mountain race in Wales. Here John made light of the horrendous weather conditions to finish 27th overall and second Irishman.
On the track, John won the Leinster Masters 5000 metres and was second in the National Masters 5000 metres. John also competed over this distance for Tullamore in the National League.
In Cross Country, John helped the team to third club and second county in the National Masters. He finished in seventh place in the Leinster Masters Cross Country and was on the Tullamore team that placed second and the Offaly team that won the bronze medals. John also was a valuable member of the Tullamore and Offaly teams that won bronze medals at the recent National Novice Cross Country Championships.
Catch Grennan
Catch Grennan competed with distinction in Hungary at the European Masters Track and Field Championships where he finished in sixth place in the 800 metres. Catch won a silver medal in the 800 metres at the National Masters Championships and also was a valuable member of the Harriers team in the National League.
Catch also excelled over cross country where he was a member of club and county teams that won medals in the Leinster Novice, Leinster Intermediate and Leinster Senior championships. He was also a scoring member of successful teams in the National Masters, The National Inter Clubs and finished off the year in style by helping Tullamore and Offaly to bronze medals in the National Novice Cross Country championships held in Tullamore.
Over the roads Catch led the team to victory in the Leinster Senior championships and was on the Masters teams that place third in the National 10k and second in the National road relays where Catch recorded the fastest time of the day in the mile leg.
As can be seen from his list of achievements, Catch is a dedicated athlete who is always available to run for club and county. A diligent trainer at club sessions, he always takes time to encourage fellow athletes regardless of standard.
Catch's affection for his club was clearly evident on Christmas morning when he chose the occasion of the Goal Mile on the Tullamore Harriers track to propose to Marlena. We wish Marlena and Catch all the best for the future.
Cormac Troy
Cormac Troy was selected for the Irish team in the British and Irish Masters Cross Country Championships on the basis of a fine third placing in the Gerry Farnan trial race. In the international race, Cormac was on the Irish squad that won the bronze medals.
A proven championship performer with an uncanny ability to peak for the big occasions, 2010 was a very successful year with victories in the Leinster Masters 1500 metres , the Offaly Senior 1500 metres and capped off in style with a gold medal in the National Masters 1500 metres. Cormac also gained valuable points over this distance for his club in the National League.
The recent cross country season saw Cormac win the Offaly Masters title and he followed this up with a great second place in the Leinster Masters Cross Country Championships. Here he led Tullamore to second club and Offaly third county.
Cormac is currently out of action through injury and we wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him return to winning ways in 2011.
James Mulligan
James Mulligan won his first All Ireland Schools title this year with an amazing hammer throw of 50.89 metres almost six metres further than his nearest competitor. An amazing feat for a young man who has always been a prodigious talent. Over the Winter, Spring and Summer of 2010 the Mulligan brothers were almost constantly stationed in one of the throwing circles located in the grounds of Tullamore Harriers. Either diligently working on technique or practising throws the boys work as hard as is possible and this respect James has set a great example for his younger brothers Conor, Eoin and Ciaran.
The season started well for James with silver medals in shot putt at both provincial and national competitions showing that training was going well. It wasn't probably clear how well things were going for James until late May, early June when James victory in the Irish Schools and dominance at throws in the Leinster Outdoors grabbed many peoples attention. In the Leinster Outdoors James was second in the shot putt, third in the hammer and had a great victory in the discus. He went on to compete fantastically in the All Irelands, where his three medals in discus, hammer and shot putt show that James is a young man with huge potential. Having won an enormous pile of provincial and national honours international selection can't be too far off.
Conor Mulligan
When compiling this report on Conor's achievements in 2010 it was pointed that Conor is again eligible for the Minor age group this year in schools competition. When you consider the length of time Conor has been competing at this level and the diverse range of events its amazing to think of him still eligible for the youngest of the secondary school grades. From Cross Country to sprinting Conor was an accomplished runner and in terms of field events from long jump through the various throwing events he has competed at the highest levels.
The year started off with steady improvement and over the indoor season a second place finish at Leinster level was followed by a fine performance in the All Irelands with Conor unlucky to find himself edged out of the medals into fourth position.
For throwers the season is packed into a much more tight space of time, than for runners and there is a lot less opportunity for runners to test their skills in competition. However Conor had obviously completed a hard spring training schedule because he dominated in the throwing events in the Under 14 age group at the Leinsters. He came 1st in the Hammer, 2nd in the discus and 4th in the shot putt. This great showing was mirrored by a similar dominance in the All Irelands where he finished second in both discus and hammer.
Conor is a fine athlete who will plenty more accolades because he proves the point that if you add hard work to talent success will follow.
Eileen Rafter
For Eileen Rafter 2010 was a momentous year with breakthrough performances at Provincial, National and International competitions. Eileen's first International race took place in Truro in Cornwall, where Eileen was part of the Irish School's Under 15 team. Eileen's selection for the Irish squad was all the more amazing as she is still in the same age category for this year's competition. Eileen represented the Ursuline Thurles in Munster for the schools competition and after finishing second in the Munster Minor girls competition she was moved up to the Junior grade for the All Ireland's where she had a magnificent run to finish seventh.
Alongside this great form in schools Cross Country season Eileen had a series of Indoor races. She won the Leinster 800m with a new PB of 2.26 and went on to take bronze at the national finals in Nenagh, again posting a new PB of 2.23 and only narrowly missing the silver medal to Kilbeggan girl Linda Conroy. The Outdoor season also saw Eileen making huge strides and her victory in the Minor girls Munster 800m was probably the stand out performance.
In recent months Eileen has fought back from a knee injury and is improving in each race in which she competes.
She is daughter of Tom and Paula Rafter and lives in Edenderry. She has two sisters Niamh and Clare (both National champions themselves), who she sets a fine sporting example for.
Kelley Cunningham
For Kelley Cunningham 2010 was a year to shine with Provincial and National honours. Kelley competed in the South Leinster Schools where she finished 2nd in the shot putt with a new personal best of 8.45m and 3rd in the discus. She progressed to Leinster Schools where she finished 3rd in the discus and went on yo compete in the All-Ireland Schools representing Killina Presentation School. She again took 3rd place in the Leinster Junior discus. She also finished 3rd in the Leinster U-18 girls discus with a new personal best of 29.94m and went on to compete in the All-Ireland U-18 discus where she was pipped for silver in last throw of competition. A memorable day for Kelley after all her dedication to those extra training sessions.

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