Despair for Stamullen’s Delaney in Dunboyne
STAMULLEN Road Club rider Cian Delaney suffered disappointment when being overtaken within sight of victory and finishing outside the prizes in Sunday’s Seamus Kennedy Memorial Races at Dunboyne.
This was a fitting tribute to the former Ràs winner who was one of Meath’s greatest cyclists, as 252 riders signed on for the event. This was a remarkably high entry, considering it was the Sunday following the An Post 8-Day International Ràs and with the Ràs Dun nGall three-day race also taking place over the bank holiday weekend.
The main event of the day, the Seamus Kennedy Memorial Cup Race for Senior A1-A2 riders, was contested over six laps, 120km in distance, on a flat, fast circuit and this particular race attracted a field of 92 riders.
Just after 10km of racing, Stamullen Road Club rider Cian Delaney, who had a great win just two weeks ago in the Emyvale GP, was feeling good and decided to test the water by jumping clear of the field and going solo.
However, quite quickly he was joined by six more riders and after another 11km out front these leading breakaway riders were joined by 10 more, swelling the leading break to 17.
It was this leading break that would work extremely well together and ultimately stay out clear for the remainder of the race. However, on the final lap, with all of them setting their sights on a victory, the attacks were coming on strong, with nobody willing to allow riders break clear.
With 1km remaining Delaney attacked again and did manage to free himself off the front, and it looked like a victory was within his grasp. But none of the other riders were letting him out of their sights and they caught and passed him within sight of the finish line.
With 400m to go, Summerhill native Mark Reilly (Lucan CC) catapulted out of the group, and such was his strength he remained out front by a small margin and recorded a fine win.
The sprint for second was won by Julianstown native Javan Nulty, who now competes with North Down Cycling Club, and Anthony Doyle from Strata3/Velo Revolution Racing Team was third.
Dundalk rider Nathan McGreehan, who competes with the 1Tap Team, had a really terrific race, finishing in fifth place.
The Senior A3 race, held over 80km of the same course was won by 18-year old Liam Curley from the Nicolas Roche Performance Team, with Richard McMullen from Ardee Cycling Club sixth.
The Senior A4 Race was held over 60km and it came down to a massive bunch sprint - a spectacular sight on the big, wide finishing straight on the Dunboyne bypass.
Here, Mark Richards from Lucan CC sprinted out of the huge pack to snatch the honours, with Alan Malone from Ardee CC fourth, Pat Willett from McNally Swords CC fifth, Neil Wilkinson from VC Balrothery sixth and James Hughes (Stamullen RC) getting his first prize ever in seventh place.
Closer to home, the McNally Swords CC Summer League continues and race seven at Ardcath was won by Finbar McGurren, with Ciaran Handley, Ross Collins, Mark McCourt, Derek Humphries and Brian Bolger - all from the promoting club - filling the next placings.
The top six in the B race were Ciaran McSweeney, Tony O’Farrell (VCB), Mark McCarthy, Aidan Harford, James Willett (U-16) and Jason O’Toole, with Laura Banfield winning the ladies race.
Race 8, which was based in Duleek, was also dominated by McNally Swords CC riders and in the A race the top six were Ciaran Handley, Ross Collins, Derek Humphries, Pat Willett, Brian Morrissey and Malcolm Kell (Smartlamp).
In the B race the top six riders were Tony O’Farrell (VCB), Conor Fitxpatrick, Ciaran McSweeney, Keith Daly, Aiden Harford and Conor McGrane (VCB), with Alicja Roslaniec and Niamh Corry the first ladies to finish.
Next Sunday, another fromer Ràs winner will be remembered when Newbridge CC promote the Paddy Flanagan Memorial Race at Kildare town.
And coming up on Monday June 19th, Drogheda Wheelers CC will be holding the first round of the Mark Mullen Memorial League. Anyone who intends participating in this popular league should note that they must hold a current Cycling Ireland licence.