Chatter about the Men's Senior Inter Clubs race focused as much on who wasn't participating as to who was actually competing on the day. Gone were Séamus Power (Kilmurray/Ibrickane) and Peter Matthews (DSD) who staged an epic duel in last year's race. Rising stars, Keith Kelly (Boyne AC) and Vin Mulvey (Raheny Shamrock) were recovering from a series of niggling injuries. Upstart, Alistair Cragg who recently ran 13.35.93 had collegiate commitments in America. Add to the mix the bizarre decision by Athletics Ireland to award the top 2 finishers of this 12-kilometre event spots on the Irish Short course (4-kilometre) team at the upcoming World Championships in Switzerland at the end of the month. An irritated and perplexed athlete begged the question, 'Will they [AAI] be selecting the 800m runners for the World Athletics team from the top 2 in the 100!'

(L to R) Cian McLoughlin (451), Cathal Lombard (479), Martin McCarthy 481),
Rory Byrne (454), Noel Berkeley (497), Robert Connolly (496) - photos by Tim O'Dowd

With six laps of the hilly 2-kilometre Avondale course on tap there was little surprise that the favourites were content to bide time near the front for the first third of the race. The course itself would provide the necessary attrition. On the third lap Leevale's Cathal Lombard took the lead with clubmate Martin McCarthy and Noel Berkeley, the living legend in tow in third position and Clonliffe's Cian McGloughlin in fourth spot. Dermot Galvin (St John's - Clare) was dropped from the pack as the leaders passed midway.

Going up the hill for the fourth of six times Noel was in trouble, and had to leave go of the leaders. Cathal continued to lead, but, even at that stage, the result looked set to go in Martin's favour."

McCarthy detailed the implementation of his plan; "I made a move about 5 or 6 minutes from home. I thought I would have a bit more strength." The Corkman was relieved when Berkeley fell off the group saying, "Noel is a training partner of mine back in Cork. I was actually quite glad he dropped off. I would have been very concerned with him nearby in the end."

After McCarthy won his first Irish Cross Country National title, he addressed questions surrounding the title given the competition, "A lot of people will say the field was depleted, but I felt that even if Peter and Séamus were here today I could have mixed it up with them. I can't run in the thick mud but I can run on the hard surface like today. I think today would've been my day no matter what. I thought about this race for a few weeks and I thought if I got a dry day - no one was going to beat me.

McCarthy placed a disappointing sixth at the Inter Country race in November and knew he had to make some adjustments. The 29-year-old physical therapist spent nearly €3000 for an eight-week training trek to South Africa. It was worth missing the Christmas holidays to capture his first championships. Regarding his training he added, "I kept my mileage up, still running 18 for my long run but I spent more time training in the gym and I added a third session of speed."

Prior to the Men's Senior event, Eddie McDonagh's Dundrum had already won and amazing three team titles, matching last year's impressive accomplishment. The Dublin club seemed most vulnerable in this race without last year's winner Matthews. Leevale was hoping to erase the disappointment of last year where first three placed 3rd, 4th and 5th but waited for more than 50 runners to cross the line for their fourth scorer. Irish Olympian Noel Berkeley has moved to Cork but continues his allegiance to DSD. Conor Holt who has stayed in America after taking a scholarship to Oklahoma came home to run for the club as well. Berkeley and Holt placed 3rd and 6th respectively leading DSD to a brilliant sweep of the team titles.

Senior Men ~ 12k: 1) Martin McCarthy, Leevale 40.44; 2) Cathal Lombard, Leevale 40.57; 3) Noel Berkeley, Dundrum South Dublin, 41.24; 4) Cian McLoughlin, Clonliffe Harriers 41.28; 5) Dermot Galvin, St. John's Clare 42.00; 6) Conor Holt, Dundrum South Dublin 42.22; 7) Gary Hynes, Civil Service, 42.32; 8) Jerome Brooks, Finn Valley 42.38; 9) Rory Byrne, Clonliffe Harriers 42.50; 10) Garry Crossan, Letterkenny 42.59

Senior Men Club Result: 1) Dundrum South Dublin 46 points (3, 6, 15, 16); 2) Clonliffe Harriers 43 points (4, 9, 12, 18); 3) Finn Valley 77 points (8, 17, 19, 33); 4) Leevale 81 points (1, 2, 34, 44); 5) Mullingar Harriers 114 (13, 20, 28, 53)