Cork Athletics History & News

Sophie O'Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh A.C.) Goes Second on Irish Womens 800m All-Time Rankings with 1:58.60 Run in Italy

Sophie placed second in a strong field, behind winner Shafiqua Maloney (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) (1:58.30). There was another Irish connection in 5th place. Roisin Willis (USA) is the daughter of former Bandon Athletic Club Irish International Breda Dennehy-Willis.

Great to see Four Cork women in the top 11 Irish Rankings: Sophie (2nd); Louise Shanahan (3rd); Maeve O'Neill (7th); Sonia O'Sullivan (11th)

Results: https://www.fidal.it/risultati/2026/COD14528/Risultati/Gara108.html

Candidate Course Measurers Course
Cork, Sunday August 30th 2026

Great to see two new Candidate Measurers, Ruadh Ó'Fearghail (Clonakilty Road Runners AC) and Paudie Birmingham (Mallow AC) take part in yesterday's training course, based at MTU. It was planned to have four candidates take part, unfortunately personal circumstances led to the late withdrawal of two.

Having successfully completed yesterday's session, and Friday's Zoom tutorial, Paudie and Ruadh will now complete some additional work before making their practical submissions, so we should see two new Athletics Ireland National Grade Measurers in Cork, in the near future.

If you'd like to become an Athletics Ireland National Grade Measurer, send me a PM - John Quigley, AIMS/World Athletics Grade A Measurer

Results of Chris Harrington Memorial 5k
Tramore Valley Park, Sunday August 30th 2026

Wins for Luke Merrigan, Leevale AC (15:36) and Tara Buckley (6th - 16:27). There were 221 Finishers
Organised and hosted by Leevale AC. Timing by Sports Splits. Photos: Joe Anne photos

Results: https://www.sportsplits.com/races/leevale5k

Results from 11 Cork Parkruns - Saturday 29th August 2026
Note: These results are all compiled by volunteers, and may not be available immediately

Ballincollig: https://www.parkrun.ie/ballincollig/results/latestresults/
Glen River: https://www.parkrun.ie/glenriver/results/latestresults/
Tramore Valley: https://www.parkrun.ie/tramorevalley/results/latestresults/
Macroom Castle: https://www.parkrun.ie/macroomcastledemesne/results/latestresults/
Bere Island: https://www.parkrun.ie/bereisland/results/latestresults/
Glengarriff: https://www.parkrun.ie/glengarriff/results/latestresults/
Castlehaven: https://www.parkrun.ie/castlehaven/results/latestresults/
Clonakilty: https://www.parkrun.ie/clonakilty/results/latestresults/
Mallow Castle: https://www.parkrun.ie/mallowcastle/results/latestresults/
Pobalscoil na Trionoide: https://www.parkrun.ie/pobalscoilnatrionoide/results/latestresults/
Midleton Greenway: https://www.parkrun.ie/midletongreenway/results/latestresults/

Victorious Togher AC National Juvenile Championship Relay Teams
Evening Echo, Tuesday July 6th 1982
Pictured here are some of the victorious Togher A.C. relay squads at the recent National Championships held in Belfield, Dublin.

(Top left): the Boys U-16 squad that won the 4x100m in a record time of 45.5. (Back row): A. Lyne, J. P. Hartnett, D. Lyne. Front row: N. McCann and J. McSweeney.

(Top right): the U-15 boys 4x100m squad that won this particular title for the fifth time in-a-row. (Back row): A. Lyne, F. Golden, D. Lyne. (Front row): J. McCarthy and J. McSweeney.

Pictured bottom left is the first Togher girls team to win an All-Ireland relay title. (Back row): P. O'Riley, P. O'Connor and C. McSweeney. (Front row): C. Cambridge and G. Flaherty.

Pictured bottom right is the boys U-11 4 x 100m squad that won this event for the second year in-a-row in a record time of 55.8. (Back row): T.Hallahan, A. Murphy and D. Haddock. (Front row): D. Scannell and K. Roche

LIVESTREAM _ Weltklasse Diamond League, Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland, Thursday August 26th 2026

Zurich Diamond League live on Virgin TV 2 from 7 to 9pm, and Virgin Media Player. Outside Ireland, or via VPN, see Diamond League website.
Sophie O'Sullivan runs in the Women's 1500, just after 6pm, but this part of the meet isn't Diamon League, so may not be covered on the stream/TV
https://www.diamondleague.com/where-to-watch/

Adidas Cork Half Marathon 1987 - Costelloe - Lyons supreme
Easter Monday, April 21st 1987

The 1987 Adidas Cork Half Marathon was held over two laps of teh Lee Road - Carrigrohane Road circuit, and finished outside teh Sacred Heart Church, by the top of the Mardyke

Marathon Magazine report: Vol 25, #2, May-June 1987, P50
Robert Costelloe, Limerick A.C., spreadeagled a field of 450 competitors to win the Adidas Cork City Half Marathon, the ladies prize going to Marion Lyons of St. Finbarr’s.

It was Costelloe’s first run of the Carrigrohane Road-Lee Road circuit and he could hardly have been a more emphatic winner. He had (three minutes to spare over (fellow Limerickman Neil Cusack with Martin Casey of Togher A.C. the first Cork athlete home in third place, over another minute behind.

Costelloe took the race through the first mile in 4.50 with Cusack, Casey, Eric Crockett (St. Finbarr’s), Sean Harte (Bandon) and Leevale’s Tony O’Halloran all keeping close order. The second mile was slower with Costelloe still in front in 9.43 for two miles and it was here he began to edge away.

He opened up a 30-metre gap ahead of Cusack, former winner of the Boston Marathon, with the others clearly struggling to keep in touch. By the end of the third mile, Costelloe was 18 seconds in front of Cusack with Casey in third and by the time he entered the Straight Road for the fist time there was no question of who was going to win.

The gap had stretched to just over a minute by the end of the Carrigrohane Road with Cusack a long distance ahead of Casey. After eight miles of the 13.1 event Costelloe had gone through in 39.38 with Cusack timed at 41.3, Casey at 42.17, Harte at 42.31, Cormac O’Connor (Bandon) and O’Halloran stride for stride at 42.45 and Der O’Riordan (Leevale) and Eric Crocket (St. Finbarrs) at 43.01.

He reached the 10-mile mark in 49.53, and maintained his advantage in the latter stages of the race. With the strong wind at the athletes’ backs on the Straight Road for the final time he was always pulling further and further ahead. The only change of note involved O’Halloran who finished some five seconds ahead of O’Connor to take fifth position. The standard in the vets, was very high.

Derry O’Driscoll (St. Finbarr’s) was the first veteran home in 73.30 and he won the over-45 section, while Seamus Cregan from Croom was the second fastest veteran and he took the over- 40 group in a time of 73.53.

Photos:
Robert Costello, Limerick AC
1st 3 Women: Kathleen Looney (Blarney Inniscarra AC, Marion Lyons (St. Finbarrs AC) and Eileen Prunty (East Cork AC)
Lead Pack: Neil Cusack, Robert Costello, Martin Casey, Sean Harte, Der Riordan, Eric Crockett (partly hidden), Tony O'Halloran (?) and Donncha O'Mahony... and ?

Pos Athlete Cat Club Time
1 R. Costelloe M Limerick AC 01:05:08
2 N. Cusack M Limerick AC 01:08:05
3 M. Casey M Togher AC 01:09:47
4 S. Harte M St Finbarrs AC 01:10:27
5 T. O'Halloran M Leevale AC 01:10:31
6 C. O'Connor M Bandon AC 01:10:36
7 M. Lallin M 01:11:06
8 E Crockett M St Finbarrs AC 01:11:30
9 D. O'Riordan M Leevale AC 01:12:13
10 A. Tracey M 01:12:18
11 M. Lawton M 01:13:07
12 M. Russell M 01:13:16
13 D. O'Driscoll M45 St Finbarrs AC 01:13:30
14 P. Mullholland M 01:13:32
15 D. Hegarty M 01:13:39
16 S. Cregan M40 Croom AC 01:13:53
17 P. Murray M 01:13:53
18 P Kerrigan M 01:14:05
19 J. Condon M 01:14:20
20 J. Moran M 01:13:37
21 F. Walsh M40 01:14:58
22 S. Cawley M 01:15:24
23 G. Cantell M 01:15:33
24 A. Daly M40 01:15:45
25 P. Smith M 01:16:02
26 E. Healy M 01:16:08
27 D. Shine M 01:16:09
28 G. Walsh M40 01:16:15
29 F. Cashman M 01:16:17
30 B. Foley M 01:16:39
31 G. Murphy M 01:16:41
32 E. Mullane M 01:16:59
33 N. O'Connell M 01:17:05
34 B. Carmody M 01:17:15
35 J. O’Leary M45 01:17:18
36 F. O'Leary M50 01:17:20
37 W Cronin M45 01:17:24
38 B Collins M40 01:17:33
39 T. Ryan M 01:17:36
40 S. Cotterall M 01:18:18
41 T. O’Brien M 01:18:31
42 S. Whelan M 01:18:46
43 T. O'Halloran M 01:19:03
44 P. Murphy M 01:19:05
45 V. Kenny M 01:19:15
46 M. Fitzgerald M 01:19:16
47 M . O'Riordan M 01:19:19
48 J. Culhane M40 01:19:24
49 P. Duggan M 01:19:37
50 P. Dempsey M 01:19:40
51 J. Capithane M 01:19:41
52 J. Curtin M40 01:19:54
53 R. M. Connell M 01:20:03
54 J. O'Connell M 01:20:15
55 S. Casey M 01:20:22
56 W. Griffin M 01:20:33
57 D. Minehan M 01:20:36
58 G. Spicer M 01:20:39
59 G. Meehan M 01:20:54
60 W. O'Riordan M 01:21:25
61 J. Buckley M 01:21:27
62 P Lynch M 01:21:29
63 A. Neenan M 01:21:42
64 P Motyer M40 01:21:47
65 F. Fitzgibbon M 01:21:52
66 T Kelly M 01:21:58
67 E. Henry M 01:22:01
68 A. Smith M 01:22:07
69 J. Neville M 01:22:12
70 P Horgan Vet 01:22:14
71 J. Lyons M45 01:22:15
72 H. McPartland M50 01:22:16
73 J. Daly M 01:22:18
74 W. Neenan M50 01:22:26
75 S. Buittiner M 01:22:30
76 S. Whelan M 01:22:42
77 J. Daly M 01:22:48
78 D Harrison M 01:22:51
79 T. Moriarty M 01:22:56
80 S. Walsh M 01:22:58
81 M. Lyons F Vet 01:23:06
82 J. Murphy M 01:23:08
83 J Harvey M 01:23:36
84 T. Dormer M 01:23:59
85 J. Douglas M 01:24:05
86 P Gaffney M 01:24:07
87 K. Looney F Vet 01:24:12
88 J. Martin M 01:24:23
89 D. O'Donovan M 01:25:05
90 J. Hartnett M 01:25:30
91 E. Prunty F 01:25:36
92 S. Murphy M 01:25:54
93 T. Lucey. M 01:26:00
94 D. Carroll M 01:26:01
95 T. McCarty M 01:26:01
96 P. J. Noonan M 01:26:02
97 T. Horgan M 01:26:09
98 G. Supple M 01:26:16
99 A. Murphy M 01:26:34
100 D. Nagle M 01:26:37
101 A. Fealy M 01:26:40
102 C. Sheehan M 01:26:41
103 M. Ryan F 01:26:43
104 P. J. Delaney M 01:26:45
105 R. Cummins M 01:26:53
106 D. O'Connor M 01:26:54
107 K. O'Gorman M 01:26:58
108 P. Ryan M 01:27:04
109 J. Cummins M45 01:27:06
110 T. Burke M 01:27:07
111 AN.Other M 01:27:14
112 M. Sweeney F 01:27:16
113 O. Stack M 01:27:20
114 P. Hegarty M 01:27:25
115 A. Brickley M 01:27:27
116 J. Conway M 01:27:31
117 P. Murray M 01:27:32
118 J. Sheehy M 01:27:36
119 R. Crockett F 01:27:37
120 C. Kerin M 01:27:46

Irish Runner report previously shared: https://www.corkathletics.org/latest-results/1987/106-april/1790-cork-half-marathon-results-april-1987.html

Three Cork Athletes Named on Irish Squad for World Road Running Championships
Copenhagen, Denmark, September 19th & 20th 2026

Sophie O'Sullivan, Ballymore-Cobh AC (Mile) and Darragh McElhinney, Bantry AC (5km) have been named on the team, while Laura Nicholson, Bandon AC, has been selected for the Mile, as non-travelling reserve

Name Event Club Coach(es)
Sarah Healy - Mile - UCD AC - Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows
Sophie O’Sullivan - Mile - Ballymore Cobh AC - Collis Birmingham
Laura Nicholson - Mile (non-travelling reserve) - Bandon AC - Collis Birmingham
Andrew Coscoran - Mile -Star of the Sea AC
Cathal Doyle - Mile - Clonliffe Harriers - Jon Bigg
Brian Fay - 5km - Raheny Shamrock AC - Nic Bideau
Darragh McElhinney - 5km - Bantry AC - Emmett Dunleavy
Barry Keane - Half Marathon - Waterford AC - Mark Carroll
Peter Lynch - Half Marathon - Kilkenny City Harriers - Alistair Cragg
Hiko Tonosa - Half Marathon - Dundrum South Dublin AC - Gemedu Dedefu

https://www.athleticsireland.ie/european-medallist-coscoran-named-in-irish-team-for-world-athletics-road-running-championships/

Michael Harty Runs National M45 Half-Marathon at Antrim Coast Half-Marathon
Antrim Coast Half-Marathon, Larne, Sunday August 23rd 2026

East Cork AC's Michael Harty, in 28th place, ran 65:57 to eclipse Gary O'Hanlon's previous record of 66:26, taking 29 seconds off the old mark
Results: https://myrunresults.com/events/antrim_coast_half_marathon_2026/6218/results