O'Sullivan claimed an Olympic 5000m silver medal in Sydney

The Irish great finished almost four minutes behind winner Australia's Victoria Mitchell who clocked 33 minutes and six seconds.

Mitchell finished eleven seconds ahead of Britain's Helen Clitheroe.

Abraham Chebii clocked 28.47 to win the men's event, which left him 23 seconds ahead of Craig Mottram.

Mottram who had been aiming for a fifth successive win in the race.

O'Sullivan acknowledged that she was a little disappointed by her display in her last road race on Irish soil in Dublin yesterday.

The former Olympic 5000metres silver medallist has competed in the event in every year since winning the inaugural competition four years ago.

O'Sullivan conceded before the event that age was now catching up and her body was straining to cope with the training required to remain an elite international athlete.

But she was thrilled when this year's race saw almost 9,000 contestants take to the pathways of Phoenix Park - treble the number who appeared in the initial event.

I couldn't have asked for more in a way of farewell Sonia O'Sullivan

O'Sullivan said: "I thought I would have run a lot better, but on the day you only get the result that you deserve.

"It was still a great one for me, with a fantastic atmosphere and plenty of support from fans all around the course.

"Really, I couldn't have asked for more in a way of farewell."

Clitheroe finished 11 seconds behind Mitchell while Spain's Alessandra Auguilar took third.

Mitchell, fourth in last summer's World Athletics Final 3,000m steeplechase, lavished praise upon one of the world's greatest female distance runners.

The US college student said: "Sonia has always been an inspiration to me when I've had the chance to join up with the group back home.

"She's a total professional, who in her preparations is a perfectionist and I include eating, drinking and sleeping habits.

"She does everything completely right and is a great example to the rest of us privileged to train with her."