Eoin O’Connell, front right, looks relaxed as he drives the break during yesterday's John Drumm Cup in Currow, Co. Kerry. The Killarney CC man won on his own after attacking the escape with around 50 kilometres to go and riding solo to the finish. (Photo: Pat Doherty)
By Brian Canty
Eoin O’Connell took his first win as an A1 rider in the John Drumm Cup in Currow, Co. Kerry yesterday, a massive solo effort that saw him spend some 50 kilometres out front alone.
The Killarney CC man was in the early break of 11 riders that managed to escape after just four kilometres.
And when the coalition was willing they managed to pull out a gap on the bunch quite quickly.
Comeback man Dylan Foley (Aquablue) instigated things when he attacked after which O’Connell bridged.
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Shane O’Neill and Caimin Muldoon (both Aquablue) came across, as did John Brosnan and Mike Stroran (both Kingdom Endurance/MODA Sports), Cathal Moynihan (Manor West Hotel Tralee/iBike), Stephen Shananan (ASEA-Wheelworx), John Hodge (Dungarvan CC) and two Mego RAW Cycles team, Aaron O’Brien and Simon Ryan.
“It was way too conservative and everyone wanted the win so as soon as we got to a minute we were crawling,” recalled O’Connell.
After a few laps, Foley and Ryan went off the front but a concerted chase from the would-be winner, Hodge and the Kingdom Endurance/MODA Sports pair brought them back.
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O'Connell on his way to a fantastic win at Drumm Cup in Currow, Co Kerry; he was a very popular winner (Photo: Pat Doherty)
“We were just after crossing the finishing line for the third time and I countered,” said O’Connell.
“The break broke up behind and it left five chasing me, but the gap just kept growing.”
That five were Storan, Moynihan, Hodge, Ryan and Foley.
But try as they might, O’Connell’s advantage just grew and he crossed the line over three minutes ahead.
“I was pacing myself on power,” he said of how he managed his long-range effort.
“I was surprised they didn’t catch me but once I paced myself well I knew I had a chance.
“I was very comfortable in the early break and knew I had a lot more left.”
O’Connell will head to Ballinrobe this weekend after which he’ll tackle the An Post Rás for the first time later in the month.
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