Eddie Barry pounces from quality escape to take strong victory in Silver Pail GP

Eddie Barry has taken his first win of the season at the Silver Pail GP in Fermoy, Co Cork, ahead of a three fellow breakaway men.

By Brian Canty

Eddie Barry has taken his first win of the 2014 season when he galloped to a fine victory in the Silver Pail GP in Fermoy today.

The Liquidworx-Fitscience rider was first over the line in the 100 kilometre race ahead of local man Olan Barrett (Aquablue) and Richard Hooton (Osborne Butchers/Edge Sports Shop).

That trio, along with Cork County CC rider Ryan O'Donovan had been part of the day’s four-man break that escaped on the first of five laps and stayed away to the finish, though a fatigued O'Donovan was tailed off on the penultimate lap.

A mini chase group came over the line just after the three up front contested the sprint, and were led home by John Mannix of Killarney CC.

But the day belonged to Barry, who timed his jump up the final drag to perfection to give him plenty of time to celebrate his first victory since 2011. The win is the fifth for the Mayo-based Liquidworx / Fitscience team that he joined from Planet Tri last winter, but spare a thought for Olan Barrett who once again went so close to landing that elusive win he so dearly craves.

Barrett can be very pleased with his afternoon’s work though as there’s certainly no shame in coming second best to Barry. And with next month’s An Post Rás looming, he knows he’s on the right track for another good performance there if he maintains his current form.

The race got off to a lightning start with the strong cross/tailwind section on the back stretch of the 20 kilometre lap seeing the break go way almost immediately.

Hooton, Barrett and Barry were all perfectly placed, with O'Donovan joining them before the gap widened. With plenty of temas missing the cut, the gap was kept under a minute for much of the first lap.

Sean Hahessy (Iverk Produce Carrick Wheelers) made a daring bid to bridge on his own, spending the guts of a lap on his own but against four men who all took honest turns up front, it was always mission improbable. He later rejoined the bunch but would escape in a large chase group on lap three as the riders headed for Glanworth.

With upwards of 12 riders in there, there was still a sense that the race was there for the taking, but the quartet up front didn't hang around. With a lap and a half to go the four leaders had a gap of two and a half minutes as a third group clipped off the front of a very diminished peloton.

These chasers would merge with some from the second group, but by that stage it was a race for the minor placings.

Gary McDonald was outside the top eight but he did take the first unplaced A2 prize from Aquablue's Maurice Lawlor.