Deposed Rás Mumhan yellow jersey, Paidi O'Brien said he couldn't move with Mark Dowling when he attacked after the leaders on the cat 1 Coomanaspic (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
By Brian Canty
Paidi O’Brien says having Martyn Irvine in the team will be the winning of the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan for race leader Sean McKenna tomorrow.
The latter took the jersey today after finishing second on the stage to Waterville and he holds an 11-second lead over Bryan McCrystal going into the final day.
The deposed yellow jersey, O’Brien, said he had no complaints about losing the lead.
“I had a tough day, I had a few cramps at the finish,” he said ruefully.
“The two boys did a great ride out front, I can’t complain," added the Osbourne Meats-McCarthy Cycles man.
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“Mark Dowling (DID Dunboyne) and Grant Ferguson (Scotland) caught them and they were dropped again, so hats too to McKenna and McCrystal.
O'Brien said he was very impressed with how Sean McKenna and Bryan McCrystal - leading the move here - were caught by Mark Dowling - second from right - and Grant Ferguson on the climb and then managed to get rid of them again (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
“Ideally I’d have liked to have kept the jersey but in reality after winning two stages I can’t ask for more.
“I was happy on the climb of Coomanaspic; I wasn’t going to be able to go with Dowling when he went across to the leaders.
“But I’m looking forward to tomorrow. It’s a stage I like.
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“But again, the two boys did a great ride and hats off to them and for McKenna; if he wins Rás Mumhan I think he’s a worthy winner.”
And O’Brien ruled out any chance of him reclaiming it.
“You never know, judging by the racing going back the years,” he said in reference to the final stage that has seen the yellow jersey change hands more than once.
O'Brien winning the sprint for 6th today ahead of JLT-Condor man Harry Tanfield and the in-form Waterford rider Stephen Murray. That was enough for O'Brien to extend his lead in the points classification. He leads that competition on 38 points to Tanfield's 33. Given the kind of form he is in right now, O'Brien has to be one of the favourites for the final stage (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
“Last year poor ol’ Paddy Clarke, the last stage is tricky. Sherlock lost it before. Shaw won the race on the last stage but he almost lost it.
“But I think with Martyn Irvine on the team; that’s a winner for Ireland tomorrow. And McKenna is an Aquablue rider as well so he’s a second team there.
“I don’t think it will be shaken up. From my own personal point of view I’d like to think I’d be there or thereabouts for the stage win.
“But again, I think Irvine is the winning of this thing.
“We all know how good he is. He’s experienced and I really think he’s a big asset.
“I reckon ASEA will try, when you’ve a guy second or third overall you have to make an effort.”
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