Sean McKenna lets out a roar as he crosses the finish line after winning the Des Hanlon Memorial in Carlow. The Aqua Blue man was one of the main aggressors in the 155-kilometre affair yet was still able to out-sprint a noted fast finisher like Philip Lavery (Photo thanks to Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Sean McKenna has said his win in the Des Hanlon Memorial is only bettered by his Rás Mumhan victory 12 months ago.
The Aqua Blue man has had many victories in his six years in the sport.
But on the basis of the quality field he beat, the gruelling course and the manner of his victory, he was understandably caught for words when he finally drew breath at the finish.
“I have to put that in the same category as Rás Mumhan, without a doubt,” an elated McKenna told stickybottle.
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“In my eyes it’s probably the biggest one-day in the country and Rás Mumhan is probably the biggest stage race so it’s on equal terms, in my eyes.”
McKenna was in flying form throughout Sunday's race and was in all the early moves.
However, with a field of around 50 riders featuring a team of ASEA-Wheelworx, UCD CC-Fitzcycles and iTap riders, as well as the likes of Philip Lavery, he was given little leeway.
Those opening exchanges were ferociously contested but the first drag off the main Portlaoise road didn’t split the field like it has done in previous years.
Instead, it was when the riders turned left off the main road towards Castlecomer that the damage was done.
The calm at the start of the storm: Riders in the main event eye each other in Carlow (Photo: Sean Rowe)
There, on the 2km drag, McKenna got away with Ian Richardson (UCD CC-Fitzcycles), Adam Armstrong (ASEA-Wheelworx), the in-form David Brody (iTap) and a flying Michael O’Loughlin (Team Wiggins).
“Because we’ve so many in the races it’s about flooding the breaks with as many as we can,” reasoned McKenna of his team's approach.
“But I was surprised there were so few in the break today; all the breaks recently have been big numbers.”
That quintet pulled away and though there was an initial chase, it soon petered out.
And the next 40 or so kilometres were calmer than might have been expected from those behind, as the margin swelled to over 2½ minutes.
However, sensing the race slipping away and not content with matters, a host of riders got out of the group behind on the second lap.
As that was happening, McKenna also struck out alone from the breakaway with 60 kilometres to go.
“I got a rush of blood to the head,” explained the eventual winner of his long range effort.
“Where we got away originally I got away myself and because it was so twisty I thought ‘out of sight, out of mind’.”
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Ian Richardson leads a group of strongmen before the decisive splits unfolded (Photo: Sean Rowe)
The four remaining riders worked well behind, but sensing he wasn’t on a good day – or possibly not strong enough to win - a selfless Armstrong gave the order to his teammates to start chasing behind.
Then the race took on a different complexion as ASEA-Wheelworx - namely Chris Reilly, Ali Macaulay, Stephen Shanahan, Mark Dowling, Fraser Duncan, Niall Clarke and Mark Reilly - all got down to work in assisting the chase on lap two.
“When the bunch heard it was 3’30” to me solo, ASEA-Wheelworx went on the front and that allowed a few Aqua Blue lads to come across,” said McKenna.
Indeed, some of those who managed to get out were; Dowling, Craig Rea (Phoenix CC), the Lucan CRC pair of Dermot Turlock and Conn McDunphy, Sean Lacey, Conor Hennebry, Anthony Walsh, Lavery and Daire Feeley, amongst others.
McKenna was reabsorbed by the four he left while seven more joined and made it 12 up front for the final lap.
“There were 12 of us in the front group and it was just awful,” laughed McKenna.
“Lads were attacking; going out on their own and splitting the group in three and it’d come back together again.
“The last 10 kilometres was just a complete boxing match; it was horrific,” he added.
Riders like Sean Lacey, leading, and Stephen Shanahan ensured a quality field over which only the best would prevail on the challenging Des Hanlon course (Photo: Sean Rowe)
At that exact point and with O’Loughlin on the front, the young Carrick man attacked.
“He went from the front,” said McKenna, “he looked behind at me and said ‘time to go’.
“We got a gap and Lavery hopped across and we were together for the last 7k, just drilling it.
“We could see the ASEA-Wheelworx and Ian Richardson trying to bring it back but with a kilometre to go they fanned out.” That paved the way for the sprint.
“I wasn’t confident with Lavery there and after doing 120k out front," said McKenna. I was on O’Loughlin’s wheel, he took it up and with about 200 to go I went.
“I could see Lavery but it was the Hanlon; it’s all or nothing and I just got it.
“I always slag fellas for shouting like aul’ ones when they cross the line but today I let one roar out; the only time I’ve ever done that previously was when I won Rás Mumhan.
“It’s just ridiculous to win; I’ve come a long way from the club league when I used to get dropped from the limit group!
“So to have my name on the trophy with names like (Ciarán) Power and (Brian) Kenneally, it’s incredible.”
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