Lacey takes victory and Munster title with solo effort at Dan O’Donovan Memorial

Sean Lacey takes victory in Fermoy today

By Brian Canty

Sean Lacey (Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes) maintained his winning streak when he took an impressive win in the Dan Donovan Memorial race in Fermoy today, Sunday.

Lacey, already with a number of wins to his name this year, attacked from the gun with Robin Kelly (Waterford Racing CC). They pulled out a gap on the chasers behind before they were joined on the second of 10 laps by recently-crowned national veteran's champion Joe Fenlon (Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes), Timmy O’Regan (DID Dunboyne) and local man Michael Hennessy.

That quintet rode well together and though an eight-man chase group formed halfway through the race, they never bridged across. When Lacey attacked with three laps to go he only managed to shake Hennessy, but would soon try again and this time solo to victory.

The advantage of having Fenlon as an ally clearly paid off and Lacey made his bid for glory two laps out before coming in ahead of O’Regan by around 30 seconds with Kelly in third.

Lacey will go to Rás Clár next weekend, a classic-style race set to be hosted by the Dolmen CC club, before heading a star-studded team for the Suir Valley 3-Day over the August weekend - a race he has won in the past.
Today he beat a very handy line-up that included the DID Dunboyne team who notched a 1-2-3 the day before in Robinstown.

Victor in that race, Timmy O'Regan is enjoying a stellar season himself and was today active throughout, as was his team-mate and Rás Mumhan stage-winner Mark Dowling.

The race, 10 laps of a 10 kilometre loop, may have not looked too testing on paper but with two climbs/drags, some difficult crosswinds and some narrow roads to contend with, it was hardly surprising a break went away.

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But few could have guessed it would go so soon with Kelly as soon as the flag dropped shooting up the road and Lacey admitting later he had to be "vigilant" with Kelly in such good form.

Kelly is another who will challenge for stage wins, at the very least, in Clonmel in two weeks time and he appears to be timing his form to perfection, as he tends to do. His team-mate for the An Post Rás this year, Lacey and himself drilled it from the gun today and quickly pulled out a gap.

Several tried getting across early but none succeeded before Fenlon, O'Regan and Hennessy eventually made it.
A chase group formed some three laps later that included Eddie Barry (Blarney CC), Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne), Mick Storan (West Clare CC), Michael Fitzgerald (Dan Morrissey/Speedy Spokes), Simon Ryan (Visit Nenagh/DMG), Laurent Dumoulin (Kanturk CC) and David Walsh (Slaney CC) amongst others and they swept up the remaining places.

The A3 race was a competitive affair, so much so that it caught the A1/A2 bunch with two laps remaining. The pace didn't stop it coming down to a bunch sprint which Joe Dunworth won in style from Russell Treacy (St Finbarr's).

A few small groups did clip away during the race, but none was given any meaningful gap, which paved the way for the mass gallop. The A4 race was won by Shane Power (Dungarvan CC).

Dan O’Donovan Memorial, Fermoy

A1/A2 race, 100km:
1 S Lacey (Dan Morrissey/Speedy Spokes),
2 T O’Regan (DID Dunboyne),
3 R Kelly (Waterford Racing CC),
4 J Fenlon (Dan Morrissey/Speedy Spokes),
5 P O’Brien (Dan Morrissey/Speedy Spokes),
6 M Storan (West Clare CC),
7 E Barry (Blarney CC),
8 D Walsh (Slaney CC);

A3 race, 80km:
1 J Dunworth (Limerick CC),
2 R Treacy (St Finbarr’s),
3 R Dwyer (Dungarvan CC),
4 B Sutton (DID Dunboyne),
5 C Power (Iverk Produce Carrick Wheelers),
6 C Dwyer (Iverk Produce Carrick Wheelers),
7 P O’Brien (Galtee Wheelers),
8 G Conlon (unatt);
A4 race, 60km:
1 S Power (Dungarvan CC),
2 J O’Donoghure (Killorglin CC),
3 M Looby (Tipperary Wheelers),
4 B Cummins (Midleton CC),
5 B O’Leary (Blarney CC),
6 J Hennessy (Fermoy CC),
7 D Whyte (Barrow Wheelers),
8 D Sheehan (Killorglin CC);