Teenager Darragh O'Mahoney punches the air in delight as he takes the opening stage of the Gorey Three Day ahead of Michael O'Loughlin (Photo: Sean Rowe)
By Jessica Lamb
A day-long break on stage 1 of the 2015 Gorey Three Day came down to Ireland versus Munster.
And it was the latter, via Darragh O'Mahoney, who overpowered race favourite Michael O'Loughlin in a late sprint.
Produced by the infamous O'Leary Kanturk Stone stable, responsible for the likes of Eddie Dunbar; O'Mahoney has been riding himself into form all season with big results at the Lacey Cup and in Dungarvan last Sunday.
But the junior was not expected to get the better of O'Loughlin.
In a crash-heavy 130km stage from Blessington to Craanford, both riders got into the winning break early and had strong team mates for company.
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O'Mahoney ruled the climbers’ primes yet kept enough in reserve to hold on with O'Loughlin into the last 5km.
The pair worked together until the last 100 yards, where O'Mahoney's sprint was too much for the Carrick rider.
"The bunch was a bit sketchy when we started,” O’Mahoney said of the race situation when the escape began to move clear.
“It was very fast and nothing was really getting away. When we go to the first hill the Irish team were pushing very hard though and it burst into pieces.
"The Irish riders Michael O'Loughlin, Adam Stenson and Jake Gray went away with myself and a team mate and two Lucan guys and a French rider [Henri Jung].
“And the gap ballooned out to nearly three minutes at one stage; I don't know what the bunch were doing.
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"We were all working well and I was happy enough. Then coming into the line myself and Michael got away together and it came down to a sprint in the last 100 yards."
Clearly thrilled with his victory, he thanked those in the Munster camp.
"I'm delighted to get the stage win,” he said after the finish.
“The Munster boys were brilliant. It wouldn't have been possible without them and Danny Curtin and the boys helping us and coaching from the car.
“Everyone at Kanturk and our sponsors O'Leary Stone are an integral part of this Munster team too and today it's just worked out perfect."
The 17-year-old takes the Champion Systems yellow jersey and climbers’ classification lead into tomorrow's 6.4km time-trial, but is only focussed on holding on to one.
"Realistically I don't think I'll be beating Michael in the time trial," he said.
"If I can hang on to second until Monday I'll be delighted and I'll have a crack at it.
“But Michael is very strong and my focus is keeping the KOH jersey. That's what I want to do."
French rider Henri Jung, riding for Team France and Eckwersheim, was third.
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