Guest Post: KILMALLOCK FOUR-MILE ROAD RACE, Friday May 16th 2025 ...by John Walshe

KILMALLOCK FOUR-MILE ROAD RACE, Friday May 16th 2025

On a warm evening for running, Declan Moore from the Bilboa repeated his victory from last year at the annual Kilmallock four-mile race.

Declan Moore receiving the Jim Hogan Perpetual Cup from Mary Murphy, sister of the late Jim. Also pictured is Mary’s husband Donal

His time of 19:54 was outside the 19:31 he ran last year but it gave him a clear advantage over runner-up (for the second year) Karl Lenihan of West Limerick (21:33), with Derek Kiely (Limerick) third in 22:35.

Breda Gaffney from Mallow was equally a clear winner of the women’s race in 23:56 ahead of Pamela Kirby (Bilboa), 24:57, with Susan Glennon from Mullingar finishing third in 25:09.

Breda Gaffney, first in the women’s race, receiving the Tommy Hanley Memorial Cup from Mike Reynolds, Kilmallock AC

Along with his prize, Declan Moore also received the Jim Hogan Perpetual Cup in memory of the locally-born runner who famously won the 1966 European Marathon while representing Great Britain. The cup was presented by Mary Murphy, a sprightly 93-year-old sister of the late Jim who attended along with her husband Donal.

Born back in 1933, Jim Hogan changed his name from Cregan to Hogan after moving to England for work. He ran for Ireland in the marathon at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. There, he was in medal contention after tracking eventual winner Abebe Bikila for more than 20 miles before being forced to drop out in the closing stages due to severe dehydration.

In 1966, he went on to win the European Marathon title in a time of 2:20:04 – on this occasion wearing a British singlet, having declared for the UK citing indifferences and frustrations with the way in which Irish athletics was being run at the time. A number years ago a book was published on his life titled ‘The Irishman who ran for England’.

Jim Hogan passed away at the age of 81 back in January 2015. Such was the esteem in which he was held that former world 10,000m record holder Dave Bedford travelled from the UK for his funeral which took place in the little village of Athlacca.

In an interview back in the day, Bedford – who also served as Race Director of the London Marathon - was asked if he admired any particular athlete. He replied: “At one time I used to like Jim Hogan’s running, partly because he was a very controversial character – I like controversial characters – but also he had guts and said what he thought.”

A welcome return to the winners’ rostrum at Kilmallock was Mallow-man Pat Kerrigan, first in the M70 category. In only his third competitive outing for many years – apart from parkruns – Pat’s appearance brought back memories of the 1970s and 1980s when he was one of the outstanding runners in the county, very rarely outside the prizes.

Pat Kerrigan, first in the M70 category, receiving his prize from Mike Reynolds

And it wasn’t just on the Cork circuit as he also travelled overseas to compete at a time when many did not. One such trip was to the New York Marathon in 1982 where he ran 2:32:48, finishing just outside the first 200 of the 13,500 finishers.

Accompanying him on that occasion was his regular training and racing companion, Andy Neenan, who also ran an impressive time of 2:36:58 around the streets of New York.  

Full results...

Pl. Bib Name M/F Club ChipTime GunTime
1 213 Moore, Declan M Bilboa A.C. 19:54:00 19:54:00
2 186 Lenihan, Karl M West Limerick A.C. 21:32:00 21:33:00
3 238 Kiely, Derek M Limerick AC 22:35:00 22:35:00
4 183 Johnson, Kevin M Dooneen A.C. 22:55:00 22:56:00
5 68 Ryan, Shane M Doneen AC 23:00:00 23:01:00
6 52 Aherne, Stephen M Doneen AC 23:35:00 23:36:00
7 174 Egan, Gary M An Bru A.C. 23:50:00 23:51:00
1 242 Gaffney, Breda F Mallow AC 23:55:00 23:56:00
2 250 Kirby, Pamela F Bilboa AC 24:55:00 24:57:00
8 40 Browne, John M Buttevant AC 24:59:00 25:01:00
3 221 Glennon, Susan F Mullingar Harriers 25:08:00 25:09:00
9 226 Downey, Karol M West Limerick AC 25:14:00 25:16:00
10 207 Ahern, Patrick M Mooreabbey Milers A.C. 25:16:00 25:17:00
11 197 O Leary, Sean M Dooneen A.C. 25:16:00 25:17:00
12 187 Linehan, Brian M 25:34:00 25:37:00
13 195 O Connor, Brian M Grange/Fermoy A.C. 25:43:00 25:44:00
14 163 McCarthy, John Paul M Kilmallock AC 25:50:00 25:51:00
15 205 Treacy, Damien M Limerick A.C. 25:56:00 25:57:00
16 399 Cronin, Declan M Mallow AC 26:12:00 26:13:00
17 223 Glennon, Matthew M Mullingar Harriers 26:15:00 26:16:00
18 178 Garry, Daniel M 26:17:00 26:19:00
19 173 Dwane, Donie M Kilmallock A.C. 26:27:00 26:29:00
4 103 McDermott, Sinead F Doneen AC 26:29:00 26:31:00
5 225 Coleman, Clare F Doneen AC 26:32:00 26:34:00
6 246 Fitzgibbon, Clotilde F Grange fermoy AC 26:34:00 26:35:00
20 247 Prendergast, Gerry M An Bru AC 27:07:00 27:10:00
21 169 Crowley, Noel M 27:36:00 27:40:00
22 59 Kelly, John M Dooradoyle 28:01:00 28:04:00
23 237 O'Donoghue, Kevin M West Limerick AC 28:17:00 28:20:00
24 201 O Sullivan, John M Kilfinane A.C. 28:28:00 28:32:00
25 219 Spratt, Ronan M Buttevant AC 28:29:00 28:34:00
26 60 Lynch, Niall M Kilmallock AC 28:35:00 28:40:00
7 44 Matthews, Louise F Doneen AC 28:42:00 28:44:00
27 228 Burke, James M Bilboa AC 28:43:00 28:45:00
28 199 O Shea, John M 28:42:00 28:48:00
29 100 Ryan, Evan M 28:47:00 28:50:00
8 234 Murphy, Kate F West Limerick AC 28:57:00 28:59:00
30 196 O Dea, Gerard M 28:53:00 28:59:00
31 220 Kervick, Gerry M MooreAbbey Milers 29:02:00 29:05:00
32 241 Murphy, Barry M North Cork AC 29:04:00 29:05:00
33 167 Clarke, Michael M Dooneen A.C. 29:00:00 29:07:00
34 184 Kelleher, Seamus M Mallow A.C. 29:06:00 29:10:00
35 215 Cronin, Denis M Mallow AC 29:16:00 29:18:00
36 97 Hannon, Ed M Kilmallock AC 29:40:00 29:45:00
37 170 Doherty, Rory M 29:42:00 29:46:00
38 190 Mc Mahon, Tony M Kilmallock A.C. 29:54:00 29:57:00
39 245 Lee, Tommy M Kilfinane AC 30:04:00 30:08:00
40 56 O'Mahony, Mike M Buttevant AC 30:05:00 30:13:00
9 204 Tarpey, Verena F Dooneen A.C. 30:14:00 30:18:00
10 188 Manfredini, Chiara F 30:14:00 30:19:00
41 191 Morrissey, Paul M Mallow A.C. 30:22:00 30:27:00
11 50 Hughes, Theresa F West Limerick AC 30:42:00 30:44:00
42 214 Ryan, Tadhg M 31:00:00 31:05:00
12 193 Murphy, Mary F Shandrum A.C. 32:16:00 32:19:00
13 216 Cronin, Kathleen F Mallow AC 32:13:00 32:19:00
14 171 Dooley, Aisling F 32:19:00 32:23:00
43 20 Kirby, John M Boher 32:26:00 32:36:00
44 230 Cooney, Mike M Ardnacrusha 32:34:00 32:38:00
45 180 Hannon, Gerard M West Limerick A.C. 32:43:00 32:46:00
15 58 Portley, Pauline F Doneen AC 32:47:00 32:53:00
46 210 Hennessy, Joe M 33:07:00 33:17:00
16 229 Leonard, Liz F Kilmallock AC 33:13:00 33:19:00
47 88 Moloney, John M Kilmallock AC 33:17:00 33:20:00
17 211 Keane, Marie F Dooneen A.C. 33:40:00 33:46:00
48 233 Crotty, Paul M West Limerick AC 33:48:00 33:54:00
49 243 Kerrigan, Pat M Mallow AC 34:01:00 34:07:00
18 198 O Mahony, Grainne F 34:02:00 34:09:00
19 212 Kiernan, Monica F West Limerick A.C. 34:06:00 34:10:00
50 208 Dooley, Brian M 34:12:00 34:16:00
20 203 Sheedy, Mairead F Mallow A.C. 34:12:00 34:17:00
51 93 O'Brien, Barry M Bilboa AC 34:25:00 34:29:00
21 36 O'Reilly, Maria F Shandrum AC 34:36:00 34:40:00
52 231 Coughlan, Elaine M Shandrum AC 34:37:00 34:41:00
53 62 Gray, Thomas M NCW 34:36:00 34:43:00
22 194 O Connor, Cora F Grange/Fermoy A.C. 34:39:00 34:44:00
54 400 Reid, Joe M Limerick AC 34:40:00 34:46:00
55 396 Reid, John M Limerick AC 34:50:00 34:57:00
23 45 Reeves, Eileen F Doneen AC 35:01:00 35:04:00
56 96 Moloney, James M Kilmallock AC 35:02:00 35:05:00
24 206 Walsh, Claire F 35:04:00 35:09:00
57 209 Flynn, James M 35:09:00 35:13:00
25 235 Lyons, Marie F North Cork AC 35:29:00 35:32:00
58 394 Cawley, Seamus M West Limerick AC 35:33:00 35:40:00
59 175 Farrell, John Paul M 35:49:00 35:49:00
60 239 Lehane, Conor M Buttevant AC 36:19:00 36:26:00
61 108 Hennessy, Brendan M An Bru 36:31:00 36:37:00
26 57 Fitzgerald, Liz F Kilmallock AC 36:47:00 36:52:00
27 397 O'Sullivan, Ide F Limerick AC 37:23:00 37:30:00
62 37 Meehan, Ger M Clonlara 37:41:00 37:49:00
28 240 N., Helen F Buttevant AC 37:43:00 37:51:00
29 28 Moran, Triona F Shandrum AC 37:51:00 37:56:00
63 249 Tobin, Maurice M Grange fermoy AC 37:51:00 37:56:00
64 224 Kiernan, Bernard M Shandrum AC 37:56:00 38:00:00
65 227 Walshe, John M Road Runners Club 38:19:00 38:23:00
30 69 Clifford, June F Doneen AC 38:20:00 38:27:00
66 168 Collins, Mike M 38:20:00 38:29:00
67 67 Hayes, Liam M Kilmallock AC 38:51:00 39:01:00
31 165 Breathnah, Íosla F Marathon Club Ireland A.C. 38:55:00 39:05:00
68 179 Gorman, John M Marathon Club Ireland A.C. 38:56:00 39:05:00
32 74 McCormack, Claire F Kilmallock AC 39:04:00 39:13:00
33 72 McCormack, Niamh F Kilmallock AC 39:05:00 39:13:00
34 185 Kirby, Lisa F An Bru A.C. 39:23:00 39:32:00
69 43 Gallagher, John M Kildorrery 39:30:00 39:39:00
70 232 O'Connor, David M Kilfinane AC 39:34:00 39:44:00
35 395 Meade, Sinead F An Bru 39:40:00 39:48:00
36 192 Mulcahy, Anne F 40:01:00 40:09:00
37 248 Moore, Ber F Kilmallock AC 40:01:00 40:09:00
71 217 Spratt, Pat M Buttevant AC 40:15:00 40:23:00
38 77 Ryan, Freya F Kilmallock AC 41:42:00 41:51:00
39 80 Ryan, Sonya F Kilmallock AC 41:48:00 41:57:00
40 181 Hartigan, Noreeen F 43:09:00 43:19:00
41 236 Noonan, Avril F Kilmallock AC 44:01:00 44:11:00
42 102 Deady, Aisling F Kilmallock AC 44:36:00 44:42:00
43 218 O'Halloran, Marion F Doneen AC 44:52:00 45:02:00
44 398 Halvey, Emma F Kilmallock AC 45:00:00 45:06:00
45 189 Martin, Nicola F 45:00:00 45:06:00
46 161 Lyons, Jean F 45:16:00 45:26:00
47 49 Hopkins, Karon F Kilmallock AC 45:17:00 45:26:00
48 94 Moloney, Breda F Kilmallock AC 47:02:00 47:10:00
72 89 Moloney, Cormac M Kilmallock AC 47:10:00 47:10:00
49 244 O'Brien, Geraldine F Buttevant AC 58:14:00 58:24:00