Sean Connolly was a surprise winner of today's AXA Raheny 5 which was held  in good running conditions after an earlier downpour had passed. The race was dogfight throughout between Connolly and local man Mark Kirwan. The Leinster Cross Country champion threw the gauntlet down, within 100 meters of the start, breaking the field wide open. However, he was unable to shake off the attention of  Connolly.

The race became a real dog fight at the 3 mile mark when Kirwan made a move, but Connolly stuck to task and closely marked the tall relaxed Raheny runner. As the race turned up hill at the 4 mile it was Connolly's turn to make a move for home, but was immediately covered by Kirwan. At this stage the crowd knew they were witnessing one of the great battles of the Raheny 5 and the closest race this decade.

The two athletes were shoulder to shoulder with  200 meteres to the finish. Connolly made a decisive move which Kirwan failed to respond too. So Connolly who holds the junior record for the course became first Tallaght athlete to win the AXA Raheny 5.

It was a good day all round for the visitors from the south side. Connolly's team mate Tom Fitzpatrick came home in third position and able assistance from Eoin Dunne, Tallaght registered their first team victory in the Senior Men's race.

The Women's race was a very hot contest with 3 past winners - all current Irish Internationals - battling it out. It the end the 2006 champion Bilboa A.C's Rosie Ryan was a convincing winner  with Letterkenny's 3 time winner and course record holder Maria McCambridge in second place. Reigning Women's Mini Marathon champion Annette Kealy took bronze.

AXA C.E.O John O'Neill sent a field in excess of 2,000 on their way around Raheny village at the traditional start time of 3pm.

Full results are now available on by clicking on the Raheny 5 Logo in the link hand panel.

Pictures from yesterday's day now posted. Just click on Photo Gallery and then press Last Submitted.