On 2nd June, 27 athletes from Boherlahan Dualla took part in the County Community Games Athletics Finals at Templemore Athletics track.

All these athletes had qualified from the parish athletics night in April.

The day commenced with a colourful parade of all the clubs around the track with the lighting of the Community Games Flame and reading of the Community Games Pledge.

Initially the hurdles and sprint races began and we had success from Triona Heffernan who won gold in the Girls U8 80m. Daire O Donnell added another sprints medal with bronze in the Boys U14 100m.

Then the field, and the longer distance events were held and Sophie Moynihan added another medal with bronze in Girls U10 200m. This was soon followed with a great run by Tadhg O Donnell taking silver in Boys U14 800m.

The relays were then held, Boherlahan Dualla had two entries – U10 mixed relay and U13 mixed relay.

There were 13 entries in the mixed U10 relay, so our team of Sophie Moynihan, Daniel Burke, Aoife O Donnell and Harry Ryan had to qualify from their heat initially – taking the last available slot. They then had to wait for the rest of the relays to be run off – and so, were in a prime position to see the U13 mixed teams compete. 

The U13 team comprised of Tadhg O Donnell, Sarah Meehan, Doireann Ryan and Daire O Donnell. Almost immediately, the result of the race was never in doubt – Tadhg ran a superb first leg, giving Sarah the baton with a substantial lead – which Sarah, and then Doireann kept totally secure – handing over to Daire to sprint home the final leg with a huge margin of victory!

Buoyed on by their success, the U10 team ran an incredible race in the final. While the race was won by a very strong Carrick on Suir team, the four Boherlahan Dualla athletes ran superbly with Harry Ryan dipping over the finish line to get silver for the team – as there were milliseconds dividing 2nd, 3rd, 4th and  5th positions!

The final race was then held – Boys U12 600m. Ryne Bargary and Mel Ryan had qualified earlier from their heats in this race, and lined up for the final. This race produced the finish of the day – from early on, a competitor from Newport had taken a substantial lead in the race and with 200m to go, it seemed like he had the race in the bag. However, showing amazing determination and speed, Ryne took off at the final bend, and chased him down the home straight, drawing level with only 20m to go and then edging past and holding his lead as they both pushed for the line – unbelievable! Mel finished in an excellent 5th place, just outside the 4 medal positions.

An exciting end to a very enjoyable day!

Triona Heffernan, Ryan Bargary, and our mixed U13 relay team of Tadhg O Donnell, Sarah Meehan, Doireann Ryan and Daire O Donnell will now go on to represent Tipperary at the National Community Games Summer finals in UL in August.

We wish Conor Kennedy and Darragh Heffernan the best of luck in the cycling on grass competition in Ballingarry on 11th June.

Congratulations to all our athletes who performed so well with many of them reaching semi-final stages in their events. Thanks to all their parents for their enthusiasm and support for all the participating athletes. Thanks to Karen Heffernan, Mary O Donnell and Corrie Dwyer for helping out with the Tipperary Community Games committee in the organization of events trackside in Templemore and to the parents who ensured all our athletes were ready for their events.

Throughout the year, we have had great support from our three parish schools, Boherlahan Dualla GAA club, Boherlahan Dualla Camogie club and Boherlahan Dualla Ladies Football club. Many people gave up their time to coach various individuals and teams for their events – typifying the ethos of the Community Games movement. Finally, huge thanks is owed to Annette O Donnell, secretary of Boherlahan Dualla Community Games for the tremendous amount of background work she undertakes throughout the year to ensure that the children of the parish have the opportunity to take part in the wide variety of Community Games events. Roll on 2020!

Boherlahan Dualla list of competitors Templemore 2nd June

U8 Girls 60m Kamryn O’Connor

U8 Girls 80m Triona Heffernan, Dearbhla Hickey

U8 Boys 60m Eanna Moynihan, Tadhg Hennessy

U8 Boys 80m Cian O’Donnell, Robert Leamy

U10 Girls 60Mh Aoife O’Donnell, Sarah Murphy

U10 Girls 100m Leah O’Connell, Faye Burke

U10 Girls 200m Sophie Moynihan

U10 Boys 60mH Albert Maher, Niall Quirke

U10 Boys 100m Harry Ryan

U10 Boys 200m Daniel Burke

U12 Girls 100m Doireann Ryan, Sarah Meehan

U12 Girls 600m Ruth O’Connell, Brid Quirke

U12 Girls B/T Roisin Heffernan

U12 Boys 100m Micheal Delahunty, Eoin Kennedy

U12 Boys 600m Ryne Bargary, Mel Ryan

U12 Boys B/T Conor O’Donnell

U12 Boys cycling Darragh Heffernan, Conor Kennedy

U14 Boys 100m Daire O’Donnell, Charlie Ryan

U14 Boys 800m Tadhg O’Donnell

U10 relay Harry Ryan, Daniel Burke, Sophie Moynihan, Aoife O’Donnell

U13 relay    Tadhg O’Donnell, Daire O’Donnell, Doireann Ryan, Sarah Meehan