Berkeley Holds off Lombard to Win Quinlan Cup

Noel Berkeley (DSD) hit the jackpot yesterday at the 42nd Tullamore Harriers Quinlan Cup Road Race, picking up the £250 first prize by winning the individual title for the sixth time in nine years.  Second in the race last year, 36 year old Berkeley was always in the leading group in the four mile race, run over a new course which cut out the punishing uphill finish of previous years. With a mile to go, Noel Cullen, Niall Brunton and Cian McLoughlin all of Clonliffe Harriers and Gerry Ryan (DCH) were dropped as the finish developed into a duel between Berkeley and 24 year old Cathal Lombard (Leevale).  Berkeley was unable to shake off his tenacious younger opponent until close to the entrance of the stadium. He finally sprinted clear to finish in 18:48, just seven seconds ahead of Lombard, with Gerry Ryan a further seven seconds back.  The coveted Quinlan Cup for the team winners was won for the fifth time by the Clonliffe Harriers team of Cullen, McLoughlin, Brunton and Brendan O’Shea, who totalled 33 points to easily defeat the holders DSD.  The senior women’s race resulted in a good win for Ann Lennon (Mayo AC) in 22:58, who improved significantly on her ninth place of last year to defeat local girl, Ann Carroll (Tullamore Harriers) by 23 seconds. The winner also led her club to team success.  William Harty (West Waterford), who led the senior race for the first mile, before dropping well back, gained compensation by capturing the junior title in 19:43, while Emma Sheridan (DSD) proved successful in the junior women’s event.  In the men’s veterans race over two miles, Tom O’Connor (Liffey Valley) finished well to defeat the holder, Gerry Carr (Civil Service). (Results).