Paidi O'Brien and Eddie Dunbar attack break to fight it out for Munster Champs gold

Paidi O'Brien (above) and Eddie Dunbar went clear from the escape that gave a large quality field the slip in the Munster title race in Blarney this afternoon (Photo: Toby Watson)

Paidi O'Brien has taken victory after another typically aggressive performance in the Munster Road Race Championships in Blarney today, Sunday.

The Osbourne Meats-Edge Sports Shop rider saw off a very brave effort from fellow Banteer man and top junior Eddie Dunbar.

The O’Leary Stone Kanturk teenager, who will lead the Irish junior team at the European Championships in Switzerland next Saturday, attacked on the opening lap and opened a gap on his own.

It was not an ideal scenario for the 18-year-old given the quality of the field and the fact there were over 100 kilometres remaining.

However, he ploughed away solo out front before being joined by four others.

That quartet included eventual winner O'Brien, Mick Fitzgerald (VeloRevolution), Michael Aherne (Dungarvan), Brian Canty (Liqiodworx-Fitscience) and Simon Tuomey (Giant Racing Team).

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Though Canty was later dropped, the quintet stayed together for around 50 kilometres, with the peloton of over 80 riders some two minutes back and all hopes of a regrouping gone.

The apparently unbridgeable gap did not stop Eddie Barry (Liquidworx-Fitscience) and local man Eoin O'Connell (Blarney CC) trying to get across. And though they got to within 30 seconds of the leaders, their effort proved futile and they were reabsorbed.

Up front, the pressure from Dunbar took its toll on the others with him and he attacked, taking O'Brien with him. That left Aherne, Tuomey and Fitzgerald behind chasing the two leaders, and that's how it remained for the closing two 10km laps.

Coming into the finish line there was only going to be only one winner in the two-up sprint.

O'Brien, who took third at the National Championships last weekend, just pipped Dunbar, with Fitzgerald leading in the three chasers for third some two minutes back.