Cycling Ireland has named a six-rider Irish junior team for Rás Mumhan in Co Kerry over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, with another two top junior riders also listed as reserves.
The decision to allow juniors into the showpiece Easter stage race in Ireland was taken last year. On that occasion an Irish junior team rode the event, racing very well and also taking a stage victory with Niall McLoughlin, now a first-year U23 with Westport Covey Wheelers.
Since last year, juniors have been included in the senior races at the Cycling Ireland National Road Series and junior, or restricted, gears have also been scrapped.
The six juniors selected this time around for Rás Mumhan are: Patrick Casey (Anexo Racing), Sam Coleman (Villeneuve Cycliste), Quillan Donnelly (Usher IRC), Seth Dunwoody (Cannibal B Victorious), Liam O'Brien (Fermoy CC) and Adam Rafferty (US Colomiers).
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The two reserves are Darragh Doherty (Flanders Color Delever Team) and Travis Harkness (Scott Motor Bright Group). And while they may be a little disappointed not to make the team, their selection as reserves shows they are among the best in Ireland.
The team will be managed by Cycling Ireland national junior coach, Martin O'Loughlin. While O'Loughlin will be sports director of the team, he is aided by soigneur, and top coach, Thomas Fallon, with Joe Kelly as mechanic.
O'Loughlin believes the juniors can go into the race with real confidence, especially as last year's junior team performed so strongly.
"Following last year's excellent performances which saw Niall McLoughlin with a stage win and a second place plus winning the points jersey, this team can look with optimism that they can mix it with the best elite riders," he said. "With a mix of three J1s and three J2s, our team has a good balance and we can't wait for Rás Mumhan."
