A determined Sean McKenna leads the very promising Daire Feeley up the Dorey's Force ramp on his way to victory in the Mick Lally Memorial near Summerhill in Co Meath (Photo: Darragh McManamon)
Sean McKenna has claimed his second win in as many weeks with a superb victory in the feature race at the Mick Lally Memorial in Summerhill, Co Meath, this afternoon.
The Aquablue CC man beat off a very brave challenge from first-year U23 rider Daire Feeley (iTap), with Robin Kelly (Waterford Racing Team) rounding out the podium.
McKenna and Feeley had been out front by themselves for more than three of the four laps.
And coming up to the Dorey's Forge ramp at the finish, McKenna made his move, dropping Feeley, an Irish junior international from last year.
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The A2 riders were given a slight handicap on the scratch group but it was all back together as soon as the riders hit the main road around halfway through the opening loop.
Gareth McGonagle of promoting club Dublin Wheelers leads the chase group after the two leaders; also there are his team mate Neill Long, Mark McGauley of Scott DLCO and Robin Kelly of Waterford Racing Team, among others (Photo: Darragh McManamon)
A strong crosswind buffeted the riders there and sensing his chance, McKenna took flight.
“Everyone from the A1 group rode honestly to catch the A2s,” explained the UCD student now riding with Aquable.
“And once we caught them on the main road there was a bit of a crosswind and we got it quite hard there.
“Guys were a bit tired turning left for the finishing straight so I attacked there and Daire was already up the road,” he said of Feeley, who had taken flight from the A2 group before they were caught.
Initially there was around six in the move but first time up the climb through the start-finish area, the eventual winner and runner-up shook the others off.
“We rode very hard and the two of us got away; we worked very honestly the whole race," McKenna.
Feeley comes home for 2nd place; his ride today was almost exactly the same as last week when he pulled clear in a two-man move but came off second best. Paddy Clarke beat him to the line in Loughrea last Sunday. However, in his first weeks as an U23 rider he is riding very strongly out front for long stretches and looks set to be a real force this season (Photo: Darragh McManamon)
“He was as strong as a horse in fairness to him and just towards the finish he faded a bit,” said McKenna of his younger rival.
“The biggest time gap we got was 1:45 but with about a kilometre to go the motorbike came up and told us we had 4 minutes. It’s a pity he didn’t tell us that a bit earlier!
“It helped that me and Daire were just riding very, very hard and there was no messing about.”
It’s clearly been a blistering start to 2015 for McKenna and he attributes that to more training.
“I’m far, far better than I was 12 months ago,” he said.
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Eoin Morton and Robin Kelly chased hard after the two leaders but could not get near them and were forced to settled for 3rd and 4th on the day (Photo: Darragh McManamon)
“It’s just been another year of development. Last year I made huge progress and the same again so hopefully I keep going the way I am.
“I’ve trained something similar to last year, maybe a tiny bit harder. I’ve done a lot of miles again but just a tiny bit harder.”
He’ll race the Cycleways Cup tomorrow with high hopes of another good result.
Further down the road McKenna is looking at the likes of the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan and possibly an Irish jersey.
“You haven’t a clue with those races like Rás Mumhan," he said of the event where he held the yellow jersey last year while riding on the Irish U23 team.
McKenna takes the chequered flag for his second win in as many weekends, with Feeley just behind him (Photo: Darragh McManamon)
“You could get up the road the first day and get a heap of time or you could miss the move and the race is over.
“A lot of big names missed the break the first day last year and it’s just the luck of the draw.
“Obviously I’d love to do well but it’s bike racing, we’ll see what happens.
“As regards an Irish team, we’ll see. I hope to get on it; I trust the selectors know what they’re doing to I’ll leave it in their hands.”
However, now in his third year in a food science degree course, he will soon be working full time on an extended job placement as part of his studies.
He said he would need to assess how he can mix training with working full time, but for now was hopeful the condition he built during the winter would carry him through.
Saturday, Feb 28th: Mick Lally Memorial
Promoted by Dublin Wheelers CC, Summerhill
Mick Lally Memorial A1&A2
1. Sean McKenna (Aquablue)
2. Daire Feeley (iTap)
3. Robin Kelly (Waterford Racing Team)
4. Eoin Morton (UCD CC)
5. Neil Long (Dublin Wheelers)
6. Mark McGauley (Scott DLCO)
7. Gareth McGonagle (Dublin Wheelers)
8. Mark Reilly (Fitscience)
9. Liam Dolan (Cuchulainn CC)
10. Daragh Campbell (Novo Nordisk)
Unplaced A2
1. Gareth McGonagle (Dublin Wheelers)
2. Daragh Campbell (Novo Nordisk)
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