Odhrán Doogan triumphs in big bunch sprint at Rás Mumhan | Sticky Bottle

*Odhrán Doogan of VeloRevolution wins the final stage of Kerry Group Rás Mumhan (Photo: Brendan Slattery)*

Odhran Doogan (VeloRevolution) has won the final stage at Kerry Group Rás Mumhan; the young A1 rider beating yesterday's stage victor, junior Niall McLoughlin (Irish Junior Team), into 2nd place.

However, while the stage - an 89km 10-lap circuit race based around Knocknagoshel - came down to a bunch gallop, junior rider Sam Bolger put in a very good effort to spoil the party.

Bolger, who has been riding impressively this year and was part of the Irish Junior Team this weekend, took off on his own with about 2km to go and managed to pull out a small gap on the bunch. He drilled it for the line but was caught inside the final 500 metres.

Earlier in the stage, the VeloRevolution team of race leader Lindsay Watson were active on the front of the bunch closing down the gaps. Darragh McCarter of Spellman Dublin Port, who was 2nd overall starting this morning and just two seconds off Watson, made a number of efforts to get clear, though Watson watched him closely.

The most dangerous move of the race got clear around the halfway point and was comprised of: Conor Halvey (Newcastlewest Cycling Club), Paul Kennedy (Burren CC), Paul-Antoine Hagan (Moynalty CC) and David Montgomery (VeloRevolution).

David Montgomery - in a quality rider whose class shone through this weekend - leads the breakaway from another three very strong riders in Paul Kennedy, Paul Antoine Hagan and Conor Halvey (Photo: Brendan Slattery)

They rode very hard out front and were chased by VeloRevolution; Watson, Tim O'Regan, Mark Dowling and Darnell Moore all making big contributions. A number of counter attackers also took flight from the bunch and tried to bridge the gap across to the four leaders, who had an advantage of just over 30 seconds for much of their time out front.

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Among those who tried their luck in getting across were: Mark Shannon (Burren CC), Thomas Quaid (Foran CC) and Joseph Murray (Foran CC), though they were caught by the bunch. As the leaders powered towards the final lap of the race their advantage was coming down, until the catch was finally made.

And while young Bolger put in a great effort in the closing stages, his efforts were also cancelled out, paving the way for the bunch sprint won by 18-year-old Doogan from 17-year-old McLoughlin.

Leading U23 rider Dean Harvey, who has just turned 19-years-old, rounded out the podium on the final stage today for Spellman Dublin Port. The former junior international now making waves in his first season at U23 level also won the mountains classification.

Lindsay Watson (VeloRevolution) retained the yellow jersey that he claimed on the opening stage and so he is the Rás Mumhan champion for 2022. Darragh McCarter (Spellman Dublin Port) was 2nd and Monte Guerini (Foran CC) claimed 3rd in the final standings.

Lindsay Watson took off from the large breakaway with Darragh McCarter with about 20km to go on the opening stage. They took 1st and 2nd that day; positions they held through the race to its conclusion today. Above, Watson on the front today in yellow (Photo: Brendan Slattery)

The points classification went to young McLoughlin, who put in an incredible ride this weekend with a stage win yesterday and two 2nd places; today and on stage 2. He was unlucky to crash on the opening stage, which ruled him out of the GC battle.

Today there were two members of the Irish Junior Team in the top 10 as Patrick O'Loughlin (17) took 7th place to add to McLoughlin's runner-up position on the stage. Another teenager, and first-year U23 rider, Jamie Meehan (18) of Spellman Dublin Port, took 6th.