Laois man hopes to podium for Ireland at the World Powerlifting Championships
Laois man Mark Murphy began strength training at 21-years-old and after 20 years of hard work and dreaming, he will take to the stage this November at the World Powerlifting Championships.
Mark will represent Ireland amongst the strongest lifters from over 40 countries, competing under the banner of the World Powerlifting Congress in South Africa.
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The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Red Hand redemption as Tyrone defeat Laois to win Intermediate All-Ireland after last year's heartbreak
Laois boss Stephen Duff was disappointed with his sides 'bad day at the office' yesterday UP TO SENIOR Red Hand redemption as Tyrone defeat Laois to win Intermediate All-Ireland after last year's heartbreak DARREN McCann never doubted that his Tyrone side had the measure of Laois as they captured the All-Ireland IFC title for the second time. Goals from Aoife Horisk and Katie Rose Muldoon proved pivotal as the Red Hands, who lost last year's decider to Leitrim, made amends at Croke Park. 2 Tyrone captain Aoibhinn McHugh lifted the Mary Quinn Memorial cup 2 Horisk was the stand-out performer with crucial scores for the Red Hands Tyrone chief McCann said: 'On the sideline, we felt totally in control. We were creating chances, but we just weren't taking them. 'When we play relaxed football, we're a hard team to stop. We played relaxed football, especially in the second half. 'The group has serious heart and determination and that was a collective performance. The key thing was getting on top and staying on top.' Stephen Duff conceded Laois were always chasing the game. The O'Moore chief said: 'Whether the occasion got to us or it was just a bad day at the office, it wasn't a great performance. "We kept in the game in the third quarter. We probably needed another goal and they managed to pull away. We're savagely proud of everyone and we'll just take it on the chin.' Laois' Shifra Havill raised the game's first green flag on 23 minutes but Horisk hit the onion bag four minutes later to give Tyrone a 1-7 to 1-5 interval lead. Muldoon provided the decisive moment in the second half when the Kildress star beat Laois keeper Eimear Barry from close range. Sorcha Gormley and Cara McCrossan got the opening points for Tyrone before Laois struck through Jane Moore and Emma Lawlor. Lawlor edged Laois in front after corner-back Faye McEvoy produced a goal-line clearance at the opposite end. A Niamh O'Neill free restored parity. Tipperary star uses Liam MacCarthy Cup as wedding gift for lucky couple - sparking Tipp, Tipp chants Emily Lacey and Horisk (free) traded points but Sláine McCarroll and Gormley gave the Ulster side a two-point advantage. O'Neill placed a shot too close to keeper Barry in the 22nd minute and Lawlor did well to release Havill, who finished to the roof of Amelia Coyle's net. Tyrone's Gormley was denied from the spot following a foul on Horisk in the 26th minute but the Errigan Ciarán star made no mistake a minute later, drilling home. Laois wasted little time on the restart with Mo Nerney and Fiona Dooley restoring parity. But O'Neill (free) and Horisk again responded. Nerney added two more by the 43rd minute to get to within one. However, their momentum stalled ten minutes from time as Ciara Crowley was yellow-carded and O'Neill's free doubled Tyrone's advantage. Muldoon then goaled after Emer McCanny had been denied to nail down Tyrone's triumph. TYRONE: A Coyle; J Lyons, G McKenna, E Quinn; C Campbell, M Mallon, C Canavan; A McHugh 0-1, S McCarroll 0-1; E McNamee, S Gormley 0-3, A Horisk 1-3, 1f; N O'Neill 0-7, 3f, C McCrossan 0-1, M Corrigan. Subs: E McCanny for McCrossan 36 mins, K Muldoon 1-0 for McNamee 45, A McGahan for Campbell 53, C McCaffrey for O'Neill 58, J Barrett for Horisk 59. LAOIS: E Barry; S Farrelly, C Dunne, F McEvoy; A Gorman, A Moore, A Moran; F Dooley 0-1, J Moore 0-1; S Havill 1-0, E Galvin, C Crowley; E Lacey 0-1, E Lawlor 0-5, 3f, M Nerney 0-5, 3f. Subs: L Kearney for Gorman 39 mins, M Cotter for McEvoy 45, K Donoghue for Lacey 47, A Fitzpatrick for Havill 56. REFEREE: S Curley (Galway).
Irish Examiner
12 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
'We felt totally in control'- says delighted manager as Tyrone lift second ever All-Ireland intermediate title
Tyrone 2-16 Laois 1-13 Tyrone manager Darren McCann said he was confident all through that they had the measure of Laois at Croke Park to capture the TG4 All-Ireland intermediate title for the second time in history. 'On the sideline, we felt totally in control. We were creating chances but we just weren't taking them, which was frustrating for us,' said McCann. 'When we play relaxed football, we are a hard team to stop and we played relaxed football, especially in the second half. 'The whole group have serious heart and determination as a collective and that was a collective performance. I was really happy with their performance today and the key thing was getting on top and staying on top.' Goals in either half from Aoife Horisk and Katie Rose Muldoon proved pivotal as they edged out Laois by six points to deservedly capture the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup at Croke Park. In the process Tyrone bounced back from last year's final defeat to Leitrim to capture the TG4 All-Ireland intermediate title for the first time since they sole success in 2018. Laois manager Stephen Duff said they were always chasing the game but he was very proud of their effort. 'We didn't perform in the game. There was a bit of relief that we weren't further behind at half-time,' said Duff. 'Whether the occasion got to us or it was just a bad day at the office, it just wasn't a great performance. 'We kept in the game in the third quarter but we probably needed another goal at that time and they managed to pull away in the end. 'We're savagely proud of everyone and we'll just take it on the chin.' Tyrone enjoyed a 1-7 to 1-5 interval lead with Horisk's 27th minute goal cancelling out an equally superb finish from Laois' Shifra Havill four minutes previously. There was little to separate the teams throughout a nervy second half but the decisive moment arrived in the 54th minute as Muldoon left Laois goalkeeper Eimear Barry helpless with a shot from close range. It was Tyrone that seized the early initiative through points from Sorcha Gormley and Cara McCrossan before Laois struck back to level parity by the fourth minute courtesy of scores from Jane Moore and Emma Lawlor. Lawlor edged Laois in front in the seventh minute, immediately after their corner-back Faye McEvoy had produced a superb goal line clearance at the opposite end, with parity restored soon after through a Niamh O'Neill free. Parity continued as Emily Lacey and Aoife Horisk (free) traded points by the end of the first quarter with the Ulster county re-establishing their two-point advantage thanks to Sláine McCarroll and the lively Gormley. However, their inaccuracy up front undermined their general control as O'Neill placed her shot too close to Eimear Barry in the 22nd minute and that profligacy was punished in an instant as Lawlor worked well in releasing Havill for an emphatic finish to the roof of Amelia Coyle's net. Frustration continued for Tyrone in the 26th minute as Gormley was denied from the penalty spot following a foul on Horisk but the latter made no mistake a minute later as she drilled home from ten yards to edge her side two points clear by half-time. Laois wasted little time in getting back on level terms as Mo Nerney and Fiona Dooley both scored within three minutes of the restart. Crucially, Laois were unable to get in front as this time as O'Neill (free) and Horisk responded for Tyrone, with the latter becoming increasingly influential as the contest evolved. The same could be said for Nerney, who added two points in quick succession to bring Laois to within a point by the 43rd minute. However, their momentum stalled ten minutes from time as Ciara Crowley was yellow-carded and O'Neill's subsequent free helped double Tyrone's advantage. Tyrone wrapped up the issue when Muldoon followed up well to net after fellow substitute Emer McCanny had been denied and they pulled away by the final whistle thanks to insurance points from O'Neill, Gormley and captain Aoibhinn McHugh. Scorers for Tyrone: N O'Neill (0-7, 3f), A Horisk (1-3, 1f), S Gormley (0-3), K Muldoon (1-0), A McHugh, S McCarroll, C McCrossan (0-1 each). Scorers for Laois: E Lawlor (3f), M Nerney (3f) (0-5 each), S Havill (1-0), F Dooley, J Moore, E Lacey (0-1 each). TYRONE: A Coyle; J Lyons, G McKenna, E Quinn; C Campbell, M Mallon, C Canavan; A McHugh, S McCarroll; E McNamee, S Gormley, A Horisk; N O'Neill, C McCrossan, M Corrigan. Subs: E McCanny for McCrossan (36), K Muldoon for McNamee (45), A McGahan for Campbell (53), C McCaffrey for O'Neill (58), J Barrett for Horisk (59). LAOIS: E Barry; S Farrelly, C Dunne, F McEvoy; A Gorman, A Moore, A Moran; F Dooley, J Moore; S Havill, E Galvin, C Crowley; E Lacey, E Lawlor, M Nerney. Subs: L Kearney for Gorman (39), M Cotter for McEvoy (45), K Donoghue for Lacey (47), A Fitzpatrick for Havill (56). Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
Mark English claims 800m title over Cian McPhillips at National Championships
Not since the heydays of middle-distance running at Morton Stadium has there been a more popular and proven winner than Mark English . Nor a victory so deeply and deservedly celebrated. In the standout performance of the 153rd consecutive staging of the National Track & Field Championships, English was imperious in defending his 800m title, the Donegal runner turning the expected two-lap showdown against Cian McPhillips into a tactical masterclass. Most in attendance suspected the 32-year-old would have a race on his hands, and it looked that way coming into the homestretch when 23-year-old McPhillips sat right on his shoulder. Without once glancing back, English shifted gear again and simply blew him away, winning in 1:48.76, McPhillips second in 1:49.26. It made for a 10th outdoor title for English, to sit alongside his nine indoor titles, only this was clearly one to relish – the Finn Valley athlete punching the air as he crossed the line before promptly jogging back down the track to embrace the adulation. READ MORE 'I felt great. I had a plan and it worked out,' said English after the final. 'I knew Cian is in brilliant shape, has run the second fastest (Irish) time of all-time. He's a quality athlete, so I knew I'd have to execute the perfect race to win, and thankfully I did. And for all the support that's here for me today, that gives you a great bit of confidence before the race starts, and very pleased.' The sheer class of English eclipsed the other anticipated middle-distance showdown that was the men's 1,500m, in which Clonliffe Harriers' Cathal Doyle won his fourth consecutive title. Also running tactically astute, Doyle kicked hard around the final bend to win in 3:53.60 – his 52-second last lap enough to hold off the fast-finishing Andrew Coscoran , who grabbed silver in 3:53.84, just ahead of Nick Griggs (3:53.90). Coscoran was back on the track just over 90 minutes later to win the 5,000m in 13:34.14, needing a fast finish to see off Brian Fay. Alex O'Neill holds off Sarah Healy to win the women's 800m final. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho Six weeks out from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Sarah Healy moved down to the 800m to test her speed, and tactics too, but had to surrender to the strength of Alex O'Neill, the Clare athlete winning in 2:04.53 after leading the entire last lap. 'Delighted, it's huge to get my first senior title,' said O'Neill, who runs with Limerick Track AC. 'I've been feeling really strong lately, but I was bit shocked the last 50, because I knew there were all there.' Healy finished a close second in 2:04.57, unable to find the space to get past O'Neill in the last 50m. In the absence Rhasidat Adeleke, the title of Ireland's fastest woman for 2025 went to Emerald AC's Ciara Neville, winning the 100m in 11.44 seconds six years after she first claimed the title as a teenager. 'Honestly, since winning my first title in 2019, it's just been such a battle with injuries,' said Neville, who finished clear of Lauren Roy (11.49). 'So this year I knew I was really coming back into myself, and I'm delighted. I have to give such credit to my coaching team down in Limerick.' Sarah Lavin during the women's 100m hurdles final. Photograph: Morgan Treacy Neville's training partner Sarah Lavin , racing for the fourth time in two days, claimed her 10th title in the 100m hurdles, 24 hours after finishing second to Sharlene Mawdsley in the 200m, her time of 12.92 well clear of Molly Scott (13.61). 'I just focused on my job, hurdle by hurdle, so clean and solid,' said Lavin. 'The thinking behind two events was I'm going to need to have the run of my life in Tokyo, on September 13th and 14th, and you're not going to feel super fresh after just running a heat. That was important, so very happy with that.' The title of Ireland's fastest man has rested with Israel Olatunde for the last four years, but an injury sustained in his semi-final earlier on Sunday forced the Tallaght AC sprinter to withdraw from the final. Olatunde would have needed to be at his absolute best to beat Bori Akinola, the 23-year-old from UCD, who won his first 100m title 10.29, just off his lifetime best of 10.25, adding to his 60m indoor title. Sean Aigboboh of Tallaght AC was second in 10.41. In the absence of Mawdsley, Sophie Becker dominated the women's 400m, winning in 52.87, while Jack Raftery won the men's title in 45.71. In the field events, Nicola Tuthill won her fourth hammer title in a new Irish under-23 record of 71.75m, while Reece Ademola from Leevale was also a class apart in the long jump with 8.0m. National Track and Field Championships, Santry (selected results) MEN 100m 1 Bori Akinola U.C.D. A.C. 10.29 2 Sean Aigboboh Tallaght A.C. 10.41 3 Lorcan Murphy Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 10.57 200m 1 Marcus Lawler Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 20.66 2 Darragh McConville Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 21.41 3 Adam Murphy Tinryland A.C. 21.51 400m 1 Jack Raftery Donore Harriers 45.71 2 Christopher O'Donnell North Sligo AC 46.27 3 Ciaran Carthy Dundrum South Dublin 46.34 800m 1 Mark English Finn Valley A.C. 1:48.76 2 Cian Mc Phillips U.C.D. A.C. 1:49.26 3 Andrew Thompson North Belfast Harriers 1:49.93 1,500m 1 Cathal Doyle Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 3:53.60 2 Andrew Coscoran Star of the Sea A.C 3:53.84 3 Nick Griggs CNDR Track A.C. 3:53.90 5,000m 1 Andrew Coscoran Star of the Sea A.C. 13:34.14 2 Brian Fay Raheny Shamrock A.C. 13:34.92 3 Jack O'Leary Mullingar Harriers A.C. 13:41.47 110m hurdles 1 Adam Nolan St. Laurence O'Toole A.C. 14.24 2 Gerard O'Donnell Carrick-on-Shannon A.C. 14.40 3 Conor Penney Craughwell A.C. 14.70 400m hurdles 1 Niall Carney Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 54.87 2 Briain Cullinan Sligo A.C. 54.89 3 Jason O'Reilly Killarney Valley A.C. 55.33 Shot Put 1 Eric Favors Raheny Shamrock A.C. 19.58 2 John Kelly Finn Valley A.C. 17.85 3 Callum Keating North Cork A.C. 14.67 Hammer 1 Sean Mockler of Moycarkey Coolcroo A.C 65.62 2 Simon Galligan Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 60.79m 3 Cóil Ó Muirí Fr. Murphy A.C. 56.68m Long jump 1 Reece Ademola Leevale AC 8.00 2 Sam Healy Leevale AC 7.53 3 Luke O'Carroll Tralee Harriers 7.15 High Jump 1 Conor Penney Craughwell A.C. 2.10 2 Mohammed Ibrahim Halil Raheny Shamrock A.C. 1.95 3 Darragh Kelly Craughwell A.C. 1.90 WOMEN 100m 1 Ciara Neville Emerald A.C. 11.44 2 Lauren Roy Fast Twitch A.C. 11.49 3 Mollie O'Reilly Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 11.60 200m 1 Sharlene Mawdsley Newport A.C. 23.55 2 Sarah Lavin Emerald A.C. 23.80 3 Lauren Roy Fast Twitch A.C. 23.88 400m 1 Sophie Becker Raheny Shamrock 52.87 2 Rachel McCann North Down AC 53.19 3 Cliodhna Manning Kilkenny City Harriers 53.99 800m 1 Alex O'Neill Limerick Track A.C. 2:04.53 2 Sarah Healy U.C.D. A.C. 2:04.57 3 Maeve O'Neill Doheny A.C. 2:04.69 1,500m 1 Laura Nicholson Bandon A.C. 4:13.32 2 Zoe Toland CNDR Track A.C. 4:15.11 3 Niamh Carr Dublin City Harriers A.C. 4:16.08 5,000m 1 Niamh Allen Leevale A.C. 15:35.90 2 Anika Thompson Leevale A.C. 15:40.56 3 Fiona Everard Bandon A.C. 16:04.36 100m hurdles 1 Sarah Lavin Emerald A.C. 12.92 2 Molly Scott St. Laurence O'Toole A.C. 13.61 3 Sarah Quinn St. Colmans South Mayo A.C. 13.84 400m hurdles 1 Cara Murphy Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 59.85 2 Ellis McHugh Ferrybank A.C. 1:00.13 3 Lauren Kilduff Craughwell A.C. 1:00.39 Hammer 1 Nicola Tuthill UCD AC 71.75m NU23R 2 Margaret Hayden Tallaght A.C. 60.22 3 Caoimhe Gallen Lifford Strabane A.C. 52.27
