Darragh O'Mahony (O’Leary’s Stone Kanturk) is heading into his second year as an espoir and after a brilliant 2016 is looking to push on this season and gain even more experience racing abroad (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Brian Canty
Darragh O’Mahony was one of the standout riders of the 2016 domestic racing scene and will go to the Tralee BC-promoted Lacey Cup in Kerry on Sunday as one of the strong favourites.
The young Kanturk man took a briliant win there last season when he surprised a number of established riders with a superb breakaway ride finished off with an even better winning sprint.
He would later excel in the Irish jersey at the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan and was so impressive that he made the national team for races in the Kreiz Breizh Elites France and the Tour de Hokkaido in Japan.
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Now studying full-time at the University of Limerick he still manages to get the training in and is hopeful of another good season.
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“It’s a fairly time intensive course and balancing it with training has been a challenge but I've managed away so far,” he said.
“My goals for the year are just to have a consistent season.
“There are lots of domestic and international races in late March and April so it would be nice to go well in those, if selected.”
The An Post Rás is also part of his plans but will depend on what week his exams fall.
“Representing Ireland is always a big goal," he said.
“I didn't make selection for some of the major races last year so that will be in the back of my mind and something to aim for this year.”
The Lacey Cup will attract a huge field once again and sign-on is at the Manor West Hotel and open this Sunday from 9.30am to 11.30am with the first riders off at 12.30pm.
The A3 and junior riders will be given a slight handicap of two minutes on the A2 group with the A1 bunch a further minute back (12.33pm).
The A4 group will do a shortened route and roll out at 12.35pn.
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