Sean O'Connor takes the A4 race at the Ned Flanagan Memorial, sprinting home after escaping in a three-man move (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Sean O’Connor of Galway Bay CC has recalled the adrenaline rush of winning the A4 race at the season-opening Ned Flanagan Memorial in Monasterevin, Co Kildare, yesterday.
The 23-year-old won from a two-man sprint with Longford CC's Leo Temple. Ross Cadogan of Clontarf CC rounded out the podium.
O'Connor said he wanted to avoid a bunch sprint, which often settle A4 contests, and so worked hard to get away from the large peloton.
When he saw an opportunity in the closing 15 kilometres he didn’t hesitate in putting the hammer down.
Leo Temple of Longford matched O'Connor when the going got tough in the closing miles, but the Galway Bay man had too much for him at the finish (Photo: Sean Rowe)
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“There was a downhill section on the course and the whole bunch was strung out,” he said.
“I saw it as an opportunity to drive it on a bit and a few of us got away with around 15km to go.
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“Leo Temple and Ross Cadogan were with me and we rode very honestly; we had to because our gap was never very big.
“I was trying to make sure we wouldn’t start attacking each other too early because the bunch was right on our shoulders.
“They were breathing down our necks but the lads rode very honestly and I was spurring them on as best I could.”
Clontarf's Ross Cadogan would lose contact with the other two, but he had the consolation of hanging on for 3rd place on the day (Photo: Sean Rowe)
The pace proved too much for Cadogan who dropped off the back, though he would take third.
“(Leo temple) was ahead of me coming in the road. I waited until I saw the town and I gave it everything when I saw the line.
“I managed to get a gap and I just remember that last 20 seconds driving for home; the adrenaline was unreal.
“It was a great feeling. I’m absolutely delighted to win the first race of the year.”
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