Flying Fintan Ryan takes victory at Pat and Monie Nolan Memorial in Balscadden

Fintan Ryan of the Nicolas Roche Performance Team outsprints defending champion Chris Reilly (Liquidworx Fitscience) to win the Pat and Monie Nolan Memorial in Balscadden (Photo by [email protected] )

By Gerard Cromwell

Junior rider Fintan Ryan of the Nicolas Roche Performance Team took victory in Balscadden today, Saturday; sprinting home at the head of a three-man breakaway group to win the Pat and Monie Nolan Memorial.

Ryan took advantage of his one minute handicap to jump clear with fellow junior Simon Twomey of Cork County CC on the opening lap and catch the group ahead.

Despite a lot of attacking and counter attacking from the scratch bunch, which started two and a half minutes behind the first group and a minute behind Ryan's second group, the duo stayed out front for the remainder of the race.

They were however caught by last year’s winner Chris Reilly of the Liquidworx FitScience team midway through the penultimate lap.

“Chris Reilly came across to us on the last lap and he put the pace up a bit,” said Ryan afterwards.

“We gained a bit of time, I think the bunch stalled and we ended up staying away.”

Going through the finish for the bell, the trio had 20 seconds on the bunch and fearing Ryan's fast finish, Reilly attacked the other two on the final ascent of Cottage Hill outside Stamullen, with around 3km remaining.

He managed to drop Twomey, but the Kanturk youngster clawed his way back onto the lead duo on the flatter section afterwards.

“Chris seemed very strong,” said Ryan.

“He attacked us on the hill and I just about got on to him. He put me onto the front then but Simon managed to get back onto us on the flat and then he rode it in to the line. Chris attacked about 500metres to go and I just caught him at about 200metres and went straight by.”

“I’m very happy with the win. It was hard race. I was away from the line basically, so I’m happy to get a good strong hard race in. I like this kind of lumpy course. They suit me better than the really hilly or really flat races.”

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Second placed Reilly admitted that was worried about Ryan’s sprint on the last lap.

“There was lots of jumping and stalling and there was a bit of messing. I got away with Paidi and we got across to the A3s I think it was. Then it all came together again and it was the same stop start, stop start.

“I haven’t been going great the last couple of weeks so I just want to get a bit of form. I just attacked coming into Stamullen village, coming across the flyover into the headwind on the second last lap. Nobody came with me so I just kept going and got across to the two leaders.

I had a go on the climb coming out of Stamullen on the last lap and it didn’t even budge him. Fintan was very strong so I knew in the sprint he might be strong.

I probably kicked a bit early myself. I wanted to get the inside line going up the hill but the legs seized. He’s a very strong junior.”