Wins for Murphy and Cooney at the Tullamore Harriers 5K

What a wonderful morning in Tullamore for the annual Tullamore Harriers 5K. On Sunday the 8^th of March, the weather was bright, fresh, and dry - just perfect for road racing, and with 515 athletes crossing the finish line, it was certainly a very successful event.
This event is one of the club’s main fundraising races, the other major one being the club’s half marathon held each August. However, it is about far more than fundraising, it is also a proud day for the club. Welcoming over 500 athletes from near and far and hosting a top-class race reflects exactly what Tullamore Harriers is all about.
Throughout the year, the club hosts a range of in-house races and facilitates national and provincial track and field events, along with many other competitions. With every event organised by the club, the aim is always the same - to deliver it to the highest possible standard. The committee and race team work tirelessly to ensure that each event is organised and delivered successfully from start to finish. So it was with great pride that we welcomed so many runners to take part in another fantastic race.

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This year’s race marks the beginning of the road racing season for many athletes and also served as the opening race of the Healthy Offaly 5K Series for 2026. Seven other athletic clubs from around Offaly will host subsequent rounds in the coming months, The event drew athletes from clubs within Offaly and beyond, and for many it felt like a reunion, reconnecting with athletes not seen since last year’s series.

As always, organising an event of this scale relies heavily on the support and dedication of many people. A special thank you goes to club members, friends, and family who marshalled and assisted in the many roles required to ensure the smooth running of the race. Thanks also to An Garda Síochána, Offaly County Council, and Offaly Civil Defence for facilitating the road closures and ensuring the safety of the event. The morning’s MC, Dave Fox, once again did a wonderful job.
Gratitude is also extended to the residents along the race route and surrounding areas for their patience and cooperation. Most importantly, a sincere thank you goes to the athletes and clubs for their continued support of the Tullamore Harriers 5K.

The race followed an out-and-back route, starting on Charleville Road, heading towards Ballard before returning along Charleville Road. Runners then entered the stadium through the front gate and finished in style with a lap of the athletic track.

From the gun, it was Michael Murphy in the blue and white who dominated the race. Michael, who recently finished an impressive 5th in the National Senior Indoor 3000m, was a clear winner and set a new course record. He crossed the line in 14:04, beating last year’s winning time of 14:48 set by Jamie Battle of Mullingar Harriers. Second place went to Colin Maher of Ballyfin AC in 15:25, while Kevin Minnock also of the host club, taking third place in 15:57.
Laura Cooney of Clonmel AC was first lady home in 16:56. She was followed by Niamh Garvey of Tullamore Harriers, while Denise Egan of Ferbane AC was third lady.

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Age Group winners:
1st Junior - Rachel Donegan (Tullamore Harriers AC) and Daithi O'Leary.

1st O40 - Michelle Keenan and Killian Nolan (Tullamore Harriers AC)

1st O45 - Sarah Flanagan (Tullamore Harriers AC and Mick Fogarty (Ferbane AC)

1st O50 - Caroline Donnellan (Edenderry AC) and Barry Minnock (Tullamore Harriers AC)

1st O60 - Mary Galvin (Tullamore Harriers AC) and Brendan Abbott (Tullamore Harriers AC)

1st O70 -Kathleen Delaney (Birr AC) and Ger Woods (Banagher AC).

In the team competition it was Tullamore Harriers AC that topped the points with both the ladies and men's teams. 

Scoring for the men were - Michael Murphy, Kevin Minnock, Jack Donegan and Kilian Nolan. The 2nd team was Edenderry AC, and 3rd was Naomh Mhuire AC. 

The top ladies for Tullamore were- Niamh Garvey, Rachel Donegan, Sarah Flanagan and Evelyn Herlihy. 2nd team was Ferbane AC and 3rd was Naomh Mhuire AC.