Brendan Cassidy takes Crotty Cup as scratch men outwitted by breakaway in Co Clare

By Brian Canty

Brendan Cassidy (Killarney CC) added his name to the illustrious list of winners of the Crotty Cup after he took his first win of the season in today’s race in the village of Kilmihil in west Clare.

Cassidy just about got the better of Galway Bay CC rider Sean McInerney while Mark Kelly of Western Lakes rounded out the podium in third place.

That trio had been part of the day’s seven-man break that went away midway through the 53 kilometre (36-mile) lapped course this afternoon.

Cassidy, who was upgraded to A3 from A4 following a great performance in the Charleville Two-Day last September, rode very well in the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan over the Easter weekend and has clearly kept that good form.

Today’s route, a rolling course with two drags up towards the finish which led into a long straight of over a kilometre before the line, was one that wouldn’t have been ideal for the diminutive Killarney man. But he made light of that, and the fact that there were strong crosswinds to take a great win.

Cassidy, along with upwards of 25 A3s were given a generous four minute handicap over a scratch group of around half that. But the gap began to dwindle as the laps progressed.

With three to go the margin was still just over three minutes, and at the halfway point another minute was shaved off. But then word got through that a break had slipped off the front and were working well together.

However, thanks to strong pulling by the Planet Tri contingent of Barry Meade, Eddie Barry, Owen Cummins and Aidan Gallery the gap began to fall rapidly and as the scratch riders took the bell they had the remnants of the A3 group caught with just the seven out front.

Eoin Whelan and Brian Martin of Seven Springs tried pinging off the front, as did Dermot Radford (Tipperary Wheelers) and Richard Hooton (Visit Nenagh). But with just five kilometres to go it became apparent the game was up for the scratch group and they’d be left to fight it out for eighth place.

As expected, Barry Meade showed his trademark kick to win the gallop with Whelan and Martin mopping up the remaining places.

Meanwhile, in the A4 race it was a 1-2 for the Visit Nenagh squad as Kevin Sherlock won from Keith Butler with Richard Quinn (CRNS) in third.

They had two laps of the course to complete, a total of 26 kilometres.

Crotty Cup A1-A2-A3

1st Brendan Cassidy Killarney

2nd Sean Mc Inerney Galway Bay

3rd Mark Kelly Western Lakes

4th Gery Scully DMG Nenagh

5th Chris Jeuken Black Rose

6th Eamon Morgan Planet Tri

7th Garry McDonald DMG Nenagh