Evan Keane takes the victory after a cagey race saw a dozen riders go clear early followed by a further split, forced by Eoin Clifford's aggression (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Evan Keane has taken his first win of the season for Orwell Wheelers, in Co Cork, one week after team mate Liam Crowley opened his account at the 'Seamus Kennedy' in Meath. And this time around the two Orwell men faced seven from Burren CC, though Eoin Clifford (VeloRevolution) might have upstaged all of them.
The size of the task, over six laps of racing at the Sliabh Luachra Clasaicí, comes into focus when one considers Daire Feeley, Paul Kennedy and Mark Shannon were among Burren CC's hit squad today, racing as a unit in a field of about 50 riders.
Keane began trying to trim the field back the first time up the climb on the Knocknagree course, and succeeded in doing so, as the 'bunch' was trimmed back to about a dozen riders. They attacked each other through the remainder of the race, though stayed together for much of the Sliabh Luachra Clasaicí CC promotion.
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Indeed, it wasn't until much later in the race that the winning move went, when that lead group split. And when those riders, five in total, got clear, Keane was the sole Orwell man there, as Crowley was back riding defensively in that half of the longtime lead group left behind.
Eoin Clifford struck out hard on the penultimate passage of the circuit, on the climb, with four bridging across to him (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Kennedy, who won the Lacey Cup in Co Kerry last Sunday, was in the move along with one of last year's junior revelations, Rory Condon (Zappi Racing Team). Also present were Conal Scully (Dan Morrissey-Pissei) and Clifford.
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Indeed, it was VeloRevolution's Clifford that made much of the running in the final, looking very strong today. He surged up the climb on the penultimate lap and got clear, staying away for a long time about 20 seconds clear.
Indeed, it was the fight to get Clifford back or get across to him that forced the split in the group behind. When they got clear, and bridged across to solo leader Clifford on the last lap, the group numbered five riders.
With Clifford was eventual winner Keane, Burren's Kennedy, first-year U23 Condon and Scully. Though they got a decent gap on the chasing group, and time checks began confirming they had about 45 seconds, that soon went up to one minute.
When such a large advantage was confirmed, it appeared to bring more purpose to the group. And though there were attacks from it over the final lap, it came down to a five-up sprint won by Keane.
He got the better of Scully - who was in the breakaway at the Mick Lally last weekend in Co Meath - with Clifford taking 3rd after a very strong ride.
Kennedy had to be content with 4th today, after his Kerry win last weekend. Condon placed 5th; his presence in that winning move confirmation of his early season form.
Mark McGarry (Dan Morrissey Pissei Cycling Team) was best of the rest, in 6th, followed by Patrick O'Loughlin (Carrick Wheelers), Liam Crowley (Orwell Wheelers) and Daragh McGee (O'Leary Stone Kanturk), with Daire Feeley (Burren CC) rounding out the top 10.
