O’Donoghue is Munster Champion

Jer O’Donoghue provided a sensational finish to the Munster indoor championships in Nenagh yesterday when he pipped his Leevale clubmate, national record holder Donal McCarthy, for the 60m title in a flying finish to an exciting race.  The 19 year old Killarney sprinter – reigning Irish schools champion at 100m — was first away but McCarthy, national record holder at 6.81 secs and a member of the Sydney Olympic relay squad, soon ate into the lead.  His fast start, however, provided O’Donoghue with the cushion to hold on for victory by just one hundredth of a second — 7.02 to 7.03.  “It was a long time coming,” said O’Donoghue as he reflected on his first ever victory over his clubmate.  “I am much stronger now. I am living in Limerick and training full time with Drew and Hayley Harrison and I am doing weights for the first time.  Last year did not go according to plan for me. I picked up an injury early on and that upset my plans.”   (Full Results ).