Blarney CC's Kieran Crean was in yellow at the start in Kanturk today and he's in yellow at the finish this evening, having survived a late scare from Eddie Dunbar (Photo with thanks to Vincent O'Connor)
By Brian Canty
Just 12 months after losing the race by the skin of his teeth, Kieran Crean (Blarney CC) has won the Kanturk Three-Day by a similar margin this afternoon.
Overnight race leader, Crean started today's fourth and final stage four seconds ahead of Eddie Dunbar (O'Leary's Stone Kanturk CC), and 15 seconds ahead of double stage winner Martin O'Loughlin (Iverk Produce Carrick Wheelers) in the general standings.
And despite the inimitable Dunbar going up the road and getting two minutes on his own today, Crean had the help of his team and a few others to whittle down that gap all the way to the line.
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Dunbar won the stage and had clear daylight to the bunch, suggesting he may have taken back the time he needed to take the yellow jersey from Crean on the last day of the race just like he lost it last year.
But when the margin between race winner and yellow jersey bunch was checked more closely by the official, it was adjudged Dunbar only had a fraction over three seconds on the yellow jersey group.
It meant Crean was crowned the outright winner, much to his and his team’s delighted and relief.
The race was organised by Dunbar’s home club O’Leary Stone Kanturk CC and luckily they had in place cameras at the finish to establish exactly what the gap was which thankfully took the decision on the time gap out of the hands of the commissaires.
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Last year, Blarney man Crean took the yellow jersey into the final day having taken custody of it following a stage 2 time trial win. He defended it on the Sunday afternoon stage 3 before Barry Meade (Planet Tri) took it from him with a brilliant stage win and the necessary seconds to win overall at the end of stage 4 on Monday.
Crean became distanced that day on the drag up to the finish and crossed the line a beaten docket.
But he made no mistake this time around after again assuming the jersey in yesterday’s morning 8km time trial which he won and then defending it in the afternoon road stage.
But spare a thought for Dunbar who, as we have seen so many times in the past couple of years in senior races, was once again the man of the day.
He attacked on the second lap and spent three laps out front by himself in poor conditions, never fearing taking his destiny in his hands and driving for home from very early despite a cold taking perhaps the very top end off his performance.
He knew all he needed was five seconds and could have spared himself for later in the race The impressive Junior Tour title holder, National Junior TT Champion and Irish international is building a very considerable reputation on never giving up and never letting up when he has others under pressure.
But unfortunately it was not be for him today.
Winner of stages 1 and 3 from bunch sprints, Carrick’s Martin O'Loughlin also had a day to forget after he crashed on the second lap.
Despite doing very well to chase back on, the effects of his crash took their toll and he wasn't able to get the time he needed. Still, two stage wins and third overall is a fine weekend's work for a man who will be 47 years old on his next birthday.
More later.
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