Sean McKenna's face shows the strain at the end of stage 2 of the Rás. He would get into the break the next day and said he was delighted with how his race went (Photo: John Coleman – Dc Images)
By Brian Canty
Sean McKenna could hardly have hoped for a better debut An Post Rás; top 20 overall, second county rider overall and a team prize to boot.
The country’s most prolific winner so far this year was a real ‘one to watch’ going into the race.
And he certainly didn’t disappoint, getting off the front numerous times and really going on the offensive.
He said racing abroad with the national team prior to the event helped him battle through it while the days in the west were nothing less than “savage”.
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“I’m absolutely delighted, to say the least,” he said yesterday.
“To get around, stay upright and to get the county team prize in my first Rás is pretty cool.
“I was second county rider overall ( at 6:23) and was up there for the U23 jersey for a while. In my first Rás I can’t ask for more than that.
The winning county team in Rás 2015. Left to right: Cathal Moynihan, Ronan McLaughlin, Sean Lacey, McKenna and Anthony Walsh (Photo: Paul Mohan - Sportsfile)
“But it was hard,” he continued.
“The bit of racing abroad before it did help me because you’ve an idea of what to expect.
“Having that that, it’s mayhem; you see the yellow jersey go down on the second last day and you know you’re in for a hard last two days.
"But it was class, those days in the winds out west were savage.”
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The highlight for McKenna was escaping in a six-man move with his teammate Anthony Walsh on stage three to Bearna.
“Getting in the break was brilliant, especially when you get in with your teammate it’s kind of cool.
“The team have been helping me all week and it’s class getting in the break with them.
McKenna, second in line, keeps a close eye on Conor Dunne of An Post-Chainreaction on the opening stage of the race (Photo: Sean Rowe)
“I’d liked to have finished in the top three in the U23 classification but I missed a split the day in the crosswinds and just poor positioning cost me.
“My legs weren’t too bad but poor positioning cost me and a few of the U23s were up there.
“I was top 10 U23 (8th at 14:05) but top three would have been nice because I was fourth halfway through the week.
“But winning the team prize was a great consolation.
“That doesn’t just happen by accident and it’s a credit to the whole team the way they fought for it.
“Timmy (Barry - manager) has a good record when it comes to this prize; winning the last three in-a-row and another back in 2011 so that’s quite a badge to wear.”
The winning team were Cathal Moynihan, Anthony Walsh, Ronan McLaughlin, Sean McKenna and Sean Lacey.
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