Darragh Long with his arms aloft in victory after sprinting in to take the Ian Gallahar Memorial promoted by Dublin Wheelers in Summerhill, Co Meath (Photo: Darragh McManamon)
Darragh Long got his season with new club UCD CC off to the best possible start with victory in the A3 Ian Gallahar Memorial in Summerhill, Co Meath, this afternoon.
Fought out over three laps, the former Nicolas Roche Performance Team man waited until very late in the race before hitting out for victory.
In hindsight, it was a perfectly executed plan to deliver victory in the Dublin Wheelers promoted event.
“I was watching the moves early on,” the 18-year-old UCD engineering student explained.
“It was fairly fast; there were a few moves going but nothing was really sticking.
“I was just watching and keeping my powder dry before I made any moves.”
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There was plenty of action up the climb through the finish area in all three races today (Photo: Darragh McManamon)
A break did manage to escape with a lap to go and with UCD having two men there, it gave Long an armchair ride.
The break looked like it would make it all the way, but was reeled in on the finishing straight following a strong chase from Lucan CRC.
“The break was caught literally at the bottom of the hill before the finish line,” Long said.
“They went away on the last lap after you go around the hairpin bend.
“They slipped away and a few more went over to them but Lucan CRC started chasing very hard.
“They were practically caught within sight of the line.”
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It was then that Long opened the taps and tore up the hill to break the tape.
It was a wet day but reasonably mild for racing after the cold snap of late (Photo: Darragh McManamon)
“There was a bit of a gap but I went probably a bit too early, but I kept the head down.
“One lad started coming back at me but he ran out of road to come around me.”
Long will now turn his attention to the Gorey Three Day at Easter and after that he said he wants to emulate the form he had at the Suir Valley Three Day last August.
“I’m going to ride Gorey, that’s the next big goal,” he said of the Easter showdown.
“My time trial isn’t great but I’ve been working on that so we’ll see how it goes.
“I won’t ride the Rás, I’m a bit young yet but the Suir Valley will be the next big goal after that.
“So I’d like to continue on from that after going well there last year.”
Ian Gallahar Memorial , A3 riders
1. Darragh Long (UCD CC)
2. Andrew McGuire (Wexford Wheelers)
3. Conor Murnane (Orwell Wheelers)
4. John Priest (Lucan CRC)
5. Feargal Ryan (Headstrong)
6. Patrick McKenna (Emyvale)
Unplaced Juniors
1. Angelo O’Connor (Laois CC)
2. Dillon Ryan (Clonard CC)
3. Conor Leech (Clonard CC)
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