Local favourite Anderson looking for redemption in the West
The 34-year-old, who won this crown in 2017 but was beaten in the final two years ago, had to dig deep against Egan. An outstanding approach on the 18th paved the way for a birdie to send the match down 19, and he eventually advanced from the quarter-final after Egan almost chipped in.
'It's nice to get through a tight match like that,' said the Sligo native is now based in Cork.
'Keith is such a great competitor, tough to grind down, he's just so solid all round. It was a real tough game, to come out on the right side of it was brilliant.
'I put myself under pressure on 18 but managed to get a birdie then so that was a nice buzz going down the 19th. I was happy enough to even get that far.
'But this morning did more for my confidence, I played really well, I actually played almost flawless so I really took a lot of confidence from that.
'The whole way through the championship I kind of feel I am growing into it a bit more. Each competitive round I get under my belt I feel a bit more comfortable, so looking forward to tomorrow.
'This evening was brilliant, the weather really does make a difference, it's such a buzz playing in front of a big enough crowd, it's rare we get to do it. It makes all the practise worthwhile when you play well in front of the crowd.'
Anderson built the momentum during his impressive 5&4 victory over David Reddan (Castleknock) in the Last 16 and he will now go on to face debutant Dylan Holmes (Greystones) in the final four.
The 18-year-old, playing in his first championship at this level, secured a brilliant 1up win over experienced campaigner David Kitt (Athenry) in the Last 16.
Holmes was made to battle all the way by Jonathan Keane (Lahinch) in their quarter-final tie, and despite not taking the lead for 18 holes during their contest, he secured safe passage through to the final day of action down the 19th.
Returning professional, Stuart Grehan (County Louth) was the first player to book his place in the final four, thanks to a comprehensive 6&5 win over James Fox (Portmarnock).
Grehan had been taken up the 19th twice already this weekend, including when he narrowly defeated Robbie Cannon (Balbriggan) in the Last 16.
But the 32-year-old, who turned professional in 2017 and recently regained his amateur status, piled on the pressure early against Fox. He raced into a 6up lead at the turn and finished things off on the 13th.
Tomorrow morning, he will do battle with former Ireland teammate Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint). Campbell held his nerve and secured a 2&1 victory over Harry Gillivan (Portmarnock) in the last match to finish on Monday evening.
Meanwhile, Brendan Lawlor began the defence of his ISPS Handa G4D at The West crown with a solid opening +1 round of 72.
The former G4D Open winner birdied the fifth but a double bogey on the eighth, meant he went out in 37. The Carton House man bounced back with a birdie on 12 but a bogey on 16 ensured he finished over par for his round.
He is clear of Alan Gaynor (County Sligo) on +9 and Aidan Grenham (Ballinasloe) three shots further in arrears. Paul O'Kelly (Portmarnock) and Cian Arthurs (Roganstown) complete the top five.
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Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
How Niamh Allen has combined motherhood with a sharp rise to the top of Irish women's distance running
The text from Niamh Allen lands at 6.37am. She'll be driving from Cork to Dublin for work and is leaving at around 7am. She suggests that once she's on the road, it might be a good time to chat. 'I've always been a bit of an early-morning riser,' she says, already close to Dublin by the time the call is made. 'Especially having been in Australia , where some people seem to have everything done by 5.30 in the morning. You start feeling lazy if you stay in bed past 6am. You just get into the swing of it.' Allen is clearly an athlete with no time to lose and there's lots to chat about. Since returning from a two-year spell in Australia in April 2024, then almost six months pregnant, she's been juggling motherhood , marriage, a return to work and a sharp rise to the top of Irish women's distance running. She wouldn't have it any other way. It's an impressive trajectory: Allen is arguably the most improved Irish athlete in the last year. After finishing second in the National Cross-Country in November, just 12 weeks after giving birth to daughter Lily, she went on to finish 11th in the European Cross-Country, her first international. In March, she won the National 10km road title in 31:44 – the fastest time ever clocked by an Irish woman on home soil. READ MORE She made some headlines in May when winning the Midleton five-mile road race in Cork by 22 seconds, beating all the other women and men in the field of 340 runners. A spontaneous return to the track saw her run 8:51.08 for 3,000m at the Cork City Sports, before she came out earlier this month and won the 5,000m at the National Track and Field Championships, beating plenty of younger and more experienced athletes. She's also a breath of fresh air. She turned 30 in April, her daughter Lily turns one at the end of August, and there's no moaning about lack of funding or facilities, or false modesty. Just an infectious enthusiasm to be the best she can possibly be. All while ensuring running stays fun. Niamh Allen on her way to winning the senior women's 5,000m ahead of Leevale clubmate Anika Thompson at the National Track and Field Championships in Dublin. Photograph: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile 'Not having any pressure to perform, I think that does me the world of good,' she said. 'Just enjoying each race as it comes. It's working so far, so I'm just trying to keep that mentality. Rather than start setting any expectations. 'You just need to stay in your own lane, do the best you can do with your own ability. I'm still learning a lot on the job and that's why I love jumping into all the different kinds of races. 'I wasn't even thinking of running track this season. Maybe I was a bit too old. I'd kind of written myself off as a track runner, would stick to more cross-country and the road. My coach, Donie Walsh at Leevale, just told me to jump in, see how it goes. I was lucky to be able to keep training during most of the pregnancy — Niamh Allen 'I'd only done one 5,000m on the track before and ran 17-something. So there was definitely a chunk to take off that. But winning the national title also gave me confidence that maybe I do still have a bit of speed in these old legs.' It was a hard-won race, Allen dropping a 67-second last lap to win in 15:35.90. In doing so, she saw off the challenge of her Leevale clubmate Anika Thompson (22), who last month won gold in the 10,000m at the European Under-23 Championships, then added silver in the 5,000m. Allen made sure to get a photo of Lily sharing the medal podium with her afterwards, just like she did after finishing second in the National Cross-Country last November. She's also quick to point out that none of this would be possible without the support of her husband Will. Niamh Allen celebrates with her daughter Lily after winning the 5,000m race at the National Track and Field Senior Championships at Morton Stadium, Dublin. Photograph: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile 'Lily's been with me now since my first race back in Ireland, so she's my lucky mascot. I'm still trying to find that balance, but that's the same for every parent. Some days you're just tired, but because running is not the priority, I think that's why you can enjoy it more. The family will always be number one. Running is just something I do for myself. 'Even today, I can't train because I have to collect Lily on the way home. I know I'm not a full-time athlete, I have a lot of balls to juggle, but I think that's a good thing. It puts a lot less pressure on my running. There have been days I've been super-exhausted and you just can't train. 'Even from a nutritional standpoint, you need to be a lot more mindful. But I'm lucky to have a very supportive husband and parents. Any high-level athlete, full-time or not, is a team effort. And I heavily lean on my support network. I couldn't do it without them.' None of this was exactly planned either. Allen says her running pre-motherhood and pre-Australia was more of a social thing. She admits to 'probably going out way too much for an athlete'. [ Ian O'Riordan: How the teen phenom Cooper Lutkenhaus broke my understanding of athletics Opens in new window ] [ Conor Kelly follows Rhasidat Adeleke's path as he commits to University of Texas Opens in new window ] She ran a bit while studying at UCC, then after moving to Dublin joined Crusaders AC, further encouraged by coaches Michael McGovern and Susan Walsh. The plan had always been to spend some time in Australia. With that in mind, and once the pandemic cleared, she headed to Sydney with Will in April. 2022. The move helped reinvigorate her appetite for running. Especially in the early mornings. There is plenty of circumstantial evidence that women can also return to distance running after childbirth with renewed vigour and strength. And well into their 30s too. Allen references Mayo-born Sinead Diver, who only started running competitively in 2010 at 33, following the birth of her elder son, after moving to Australia with her husband in 2002. Niamh Allen representing Ireland at the 2024 European Cross-Country Championships in Antalya, Turkey. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho In 2022, Diver ran a 2:21:34 at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, at age 45. It was an Australian marathon record and the fastest time by an Irish-born woman – faster than the current national record of 2:22:23 held by Catherina McKiernan. Other women closer to home have inspired Allen too. Sonia O'Sullivan finished fourth behind a trio of world-class women in the 1999 Great North Run Half Marathon, just 13 weeks after giving birth to her first daughter Ciara. A year later, O'Sullivan won the Olympic silver medal in the 5,000m 'I was lucky to be able to keep training during most of the pregnancy,' said Allen. 'But there are a few factors. I suppose you never feel as old as you probably are. Maybe I still think I'm a spring chicken a lot of the time. And because I don't come from a running background, and would hang around with a lot of non-runners, you don't consider being 30 as that old. 'Maybe age will be a hindrance over the next few years, but I'm enjoying the process. And with the running technology, the improved running shoes, maybe the life cycle of the athlete is extending. So maybe you can still set ambitions and goals. 'The plan was always to come back from Australia after two years and it's worked out well timewise. I also feel I've got all that travelling and fun part over with, I'm more prepared to give the running and training a bit more now.' Ireland's Niamh Allen makes her way through the field at the 2024 European Cross-Country Championships in Antalya, Turkey. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho The early-morning trip to Dublin is more a once-off, as Allen is working in HR with IT specialists Nostra, based just a few minutes from her home in Cork city. Still, everything about her day is based around flexibility 'Work are very supportive, and it's three days a week for now, up to four days when Lily starts creche, in October. The easy or steady runs, I would do a lot of those by myself. I can keep to my own pace, depending on how the day's going. So I throw on a podcast, keep to my own pace. 'In the training sessions, I try to meet up with the Leevale group, on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. Because you'll definitely get pushed along in the group like that. But I'm always mindful of the need to be flexible. 'I suppose my whole family would be competitive. Like in Midleton, once I got in front of the men, there was no way I was letting them overtake me. That competitive nature is definitely in me. 'But next year, and long-term, it will be the marathon. All my coaches have said the marathon, and endurance, would be my strong point. Even if I do think I still have a bit of speed. But I'm definitely not a 1,500m runner. 'I do hope to give the marathon a good crack, and of course every athlete has the Olympics in their head somewhere as the ultimate goal. So I'll see how it goes next year, then maybe think about LA in 2028. Just putting that out there for now.'
Irish Examiner
13 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Dooley leveller means share of spoils for Douglas and Kanturk
Premier SHC: Douglas: 0-21 Kanturk: 2-15 A draw wasn't what either side wanted after opening day defeats in the Cork Premier SHC, but in the end it was Douglas more thankful for a point after it took a late Ronan Dooley score to level matters in Castletownroche. Losses two weeks ago meant neither team had room for error and it showed in the first half in a nervy display where both teams struggled to gain a foothold. Douglas did lead by a point at half-time having played with a strong wind, but they looked in trouble when Kanturk banged in two quick goals to lead by four points in the closing stages. The city team showed character though with Cork senior hurler Shane Kingston playing an influential role in the comeback. It did look like they ran out of time, but four minutes into added time, Dooley popped up with a point from close range. Douglas, despite having a strong wind with them in the opening 30 minutes, were slow out of the blocks. A Colin Walsh point after 70 seconds got Kanturk up and running before the same player had a goal opportunity four minutes in after being set up by Lorcan O'Neill, but his effort didn't have enough power to beat Douglas goalkeeper Donal Maher. Quick-fire points from Shane Kingston and Conor O'Donovan were well worked scores for Douglas. But it was a scrappy opening with both teams guilty of some poor shooting. Kanturk's Brian O'Sullivan holds onto the sliothar as he is about to be challenged by Eoin O'Flynn of Douglas during the Premier Senior Hurling Championshiop match in Castletownroche. Picture: Howard Crowdy With the stakes high, both teams didn't get a consistent run going here, though Kanturk did land three of the next four points with Colin Walsh pointing and also having a say in the other scores, 0-4 to 0-3 to the Duhallow team after 15 minutes. The sides traded points in what was a first half short of quality even if the wind was causing havoc. Kanturk continued to shade it approaching the interval as they led 0-7 to 0-6 with two minutes to the break, but points from Joseph Harte and Shane Kingston (free) gave the city outfit a slender 0-8 to 0-7 half-time advantage. Wind-assisted Kanturk started the new half sluggishly with Douglas' Ronan Dooley splitting the posts. They possibly could have been further, but it didn't happen as Alan Walsh raised a white flag to leave the bare minimum in it. The teams swapped points as neither team could gain a foothold, 0-10 to 0-9 after 38 minutes. A Brian O'Sullivan boomer did tie up matters. No surprise that the sides shared the next four points, 0-12 each with a quarter of the game left. A minute later in a rare goal chance, Conor Kingston's goal-bound effort deflected out for a 65 which Shane Kingston converted. Douglas continued to have their noses in front, 0-15 to 0-14 until Kanturk grabbed the bull by the horns. The excellent Brian O'Sullivan goaled after 51 minutes after Colin Walsh played a key role and despite Douglas sub Daniel Harte landing his second point, the Duhallow team got their second goal seven minutes from time when Rory Shehan billowed the back of the net, 2-14 to 0-16. Three successive Douglas points from them a point behind that man Shane Kingston pointed to level the game a minute from time. A difficult free was converted by Sheahan edged Kanturk ahead and had chances to push further ahead. With time up, Dooley stepped up to rescue Douglas and make sure there was a share of the spoils. Scorers for Douglas: S Kingston 0-10 (0-4 f, 0-2 65), C O'Donovan 0-3, R Dooley, D Harte 0-2 each, M Howell, C Kingston, A Cadogan, J Harte 0-1 each. Kanturk: R Sheahan 1-4 (0-4 f), B O'Sullivan 1-3, C Walsh 0-3, A Walsh 0-2, T Walsh, P Walsh, I Walsh 0-1 each. DOUGLAS: D Maher; D Murphy, B O'Neill, K McSweeney; E O'Flynn, M Howell, J O'Callaghan-Maher; D Kelly, A O'Connell; C Kingston, S Kingston, R Dooley; A Cadogan, J Harte, C O'Donovan. Subs: S Barron for J Harte (43), D Harte for J O'Callaghan-Maher (50), B O'Connor for D Kelly (62). KANTURK: G Bucinskas; J McLoughlin, M Healy, C Mullane; L McLoughlin, T Walsh, D Browne; P Walsh, B O'Sullivan; I Walsh, C Walsh, L O'Neill; R Sheahan, A Walsh, J Fitzpatrick. Subs: D O'Connell for J Fitzpatrick (43), L O'Keeffe for L O'Neill (59), C Sheahan for L McLoughlin (61). Referee: Aidan Hyland (Kilworth).
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Blackrock v Barrs derby kickstarts pivotal weekend in Cork Premier SHC
This weekend is make or break for a number of clubs in the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier SHC. Some eagerly anticipated ties await and for the teams that secured opening day wins - Sarsfields, Charleville, Blackrock, Midleton, Glen Rovers and St Finbarr's - they will try and carry that momentum into the next round, safe in the knowledge that they have already delivered. Come Sunday evening, there will be a clearer picture. Of the six games to be decided, there are three standout derby clashes including Blackrock v St Finbarr's who get proceedings underway. The clash is certain to attract a huge crowd to Páirc Uí Rinn this evening at 7.30pm. In this all-city clash, both sides are in a positive state following their respective victories over Kanturk and Douglas. Ger Cunningham's charges were boosted by the return of their five Cork players (albeit minus the injured Brian Hayes) and recorded a nine-point triumph over Douglas. The Barrs are champions from three years ago, when incidentally they got the better of the Rockies. They've come off an up-and-down campaign, but they kick-started this year on an optimistic note with Ben Cunningham, Jack Cahalane and William Buckley top in the scoring charts. Jamie Harrington's Blackrock edged past the Barrs last summer thanks to a late Robbie Cotter goal. And it was a Michael O'Halloran goal that helped the champions of 2020 past Kanturk a fortnight ago, while Alan Connolly accounted for five points. Large crowds are expected at the Boreenmanna Road venue again tomorrow when it will host a double header, the second of which involves Erin's Own and county final runners-up and titleholders from the previous year Sarsfields (7pm) - another pairing that is sure to whet the appetite. These near neighbours need no introduction. The Glounthaune club is among six teams that kicked off their season with a disappointing defeat. Together with Fr O'Neill's, Newcestown, Kanturk, Douglas and Newtownshandrum, they seek a favourable result to keep their championship hopes on track. New manager Shay Bowen, who recently retired as their number one goalkeeper after over two decades of incredible service with Erin's Own, is at the helm. His team is in a period of transition, but he will be heartened by their strong finish against Glen Rovers. Goalscorer Finn O'Brien and Robbie O'Flynn are players they will look to. Johnny Crowley's Sars had 14 points to spare over Fr O'Neill's and the All-Ireland club finalists were inspired by Jack O'Connor, Cian Darcy and the dead ball accuracy of Colm McCarthy. They will be favourites in this all east-Cork battle. On Sunday, all roads lead to Milford (4pm) for Charleville v Newtownshandrum when these two north-Cork heavyweights collide. With so much on the line for both outfits, the atmosphere will be electric. Former soccer player Dominic Foley is in as coach to Charleville and helped steer them to an 11-point success over Newcestown. And after difficult times over the years - including 2024, when they faced the prospect of relegation - this has to be a significant result for them. Psychologically, more than anything else. An impressive league display is encouraging news for their supporters too and demonstrates how much they have evolved as a group while awaiting the return of their leading light Darragh Fitzgibbon. The mention of Newtownshandrum, and the input of Tim O'Mahony and Cormac O'Brien cannot be underestimated. O'Mahony, in particular, has filled a variety of positions over the years for his beloved Green and Gold. Newtown too, have come off a decent league. Midleton provided round one opposition and it was the Magpies that emerged five point winners.
