Winner Thomas Maguire with race director JJ Flaherty (left) and Leo Hallissey (right)
By Brian Canty
Thomas Maguire (Galway Bay CC) took a fine win in the Bog Week Shield today, Saturday, when he out-sprinted Tom Burke (Covey Wheelers, Westport) to the line in Tullycross.
Maguire is enjoying a good season thus far, consistently among the top finishers in the Connacht League and he put his good form to use on the lumpy circuit around west Galway this afternoon, forging clear of the field early on.
Indeed the race, restricted to A4 riders, was aggressive from the drop of the flag and at only 28 miles in length, it was always going to be a case of trying to get away early.
Maguire surged clear before the turn off for Leenane and with him went five others, most of whom stayed away from the chasing pack for the entire race.
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Maguire, Burke, and the host club’s Padraig Hughes were those most aggressive and it was little surprise when the six-man breakaway halved to two three-man groups.
Unfortunately, one of those in the front trio punctured to leave just Maguire and Burke out front with three behind.
But Maguire and Burke showed good legs to stay away to the finish and fight it out between them, the former taking it on the line by half a bike length.
Results
1. Thomas Maguire (Galway Bay CC)
2. Thomas Burke (Covey Wheelers)
3. Padraig Hughes (Western Lakes)
4. Keith O’Connell (Covey Wheelers)
5. Loius Moloney (Garda CC)
6. Shane Gilligan (Western Lakes)
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