Darragh O'Mahony (O'Leary's Stone Kanturk) was a clear winner in the Lacey Cup yesterday, beating renowned fast men like Cathal Moynihan (Manor West Hotel Tralee BC/iBike) and Conor Hennebry of Aquablue (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
By Brian Canty
Yesterday’s winner of the Lacey Cup in Tralee, Darragh O’Mahony, admitted he was “very surprised” with the result given the stellar start-list and his injury troubles over winter.
The O’Leary’s Stone Kanturk CC man was out of action for a number of weeks pre-Christmas because of a niggling knee complaint but a solid block of training since he became injury-free in the New Year had him back on track.
“I’ve had a fairly poor winter with the knee problem but since St Stephen’s Day I’ve done big miles and I managed 25 hours during our mid-term break recently,” said the first-year U23 rider.
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Yesterday, O’Mahony’s A2 group started one minute ahead of the scratch group and two minutes behind the A3 men but they caught the latter before the race turned left at Camp and up the first climb.
“Mego RAW had six lads in our group and they really drove it; Sean Yelverton, Henry Cooke and Shane Kenny were all there and that made it hard on the A1s to catch us,” he said.
The A1 group did eventually reel them in by Inch after which all the bigger attacks came.
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“The main break went then and there were six in it and I made it seven when I got across.
“I initially missed it but I fought hard to get across before the last climb of the day.”
Seven riders; Conor Hennebry (Aquablue), Sean Yelverton (Mego RAW Cycles), Cathal Moynihan (Tralee Manor West iBike), Shane Kenny (Mego RAW Cycles), Clinton O’Mahony (West Cork CC) and Paul Kennedy (Newcastle West) made the break and though they never had more than 40 seconds on the bunch it proved more than enough.
“I was with the break descending for the finish and I felt good but I thought (Conor) Hennebry would beat me.
“I was worried about him and (Cathal) Moynihan was strong too.
“But I put in a big dig and came around Conor.
“It was brilliant, probably not as big as the Junior Tour win last year - that would be more prestigious, but it’s still good start to the season.”
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