Longford’s Temple sprints to victory in crash-marred Markievicz Cup finale

The Éire Óg CC promoted Markievicz Cup was won today by Longford CRC man Leo Temple (in blue and white). (Photo: Darragh McManamon)

Leo Temple has won today’s feature race in Connacht, the Markievicz Cup, in a crash-marred bunch sprint that decided the outcome after 100 kilometres of racing.

The Longford CRC rider was quickest to the line, beating off a brave effort from Galway Bay CC’s Ronan O’Flynn with Paul Crowe (Black Rose Racing) next home.

The race saw the A4s, A3s and A2s set off at different intervals ahead of what was a tough day for racing in Sligo.

But an eight-man group broke off the front of the limit group, made up of A3s and A2s, and they merged with the A4s up front.

And that’s how it remained coming in for the sprint when a crash took up to five riders out of contention.

And of those who stayed upright, Temple was quickest; going one better than his second place in Monasterevin earlier in the season.