Paidi O'Brien and Eddie Dunbar overpower opposition going from the gun in Currow

Paidi O'Brien leads Eddie Dunbar on their way to 1st and 2nd at the John Drumm Cup in Currow, Co Kerry, yesterday (Photo: Pat Doherty)

By Brian Canty

Paidi O'Brien followed up his victory on stage three of the Kerry group Rás Mumhan last weekend with a fine win in the John Drumm Memorial in Currow yesterday afternoon.

The Banteer man, riding for Osbourne Meats-Edge Sports had the quicker sprint to edge out neighbour Eddie Dunbar (O'Leary's Stone Kanturk CC).

They had been part of the day's seven-man break that went away inside the opening kilometre of the 108 kilometre event, before the escape eventually split on the final lap.

That move was instigated by Dunbar, who attacked on the drag after the finish line. Of the eight men in the break, only O'Brien and former winner Mick Fitzgerald (veloRevolution) could go with him.

The trio worked very well and had a minute on the four chasers very quickly; with Richard Hooton enjoying an armchair ride with his man O'Brien up the road.

O'Brien and Dunbar distanced Fitzgerald on the run-in for home, with the former showing his class with a trademark finishing kick to add to his wins at Rás Luimni last month, Carrick on Suir on St Patrick's Day and Waterville last Sunday.

Dunbar, who was second in the Shay Elliott Memorial A1-A2 race on Sunday, will also be very pleased with his afternoon's work, getting another 100+ kilometre race into his legs and once again showing up far more experienced riders.

In the break were the eventual podium of O’Brien, Dunbar and Fitzgerald as well as Denis Dunworth (Tralee BC-Manor West), Martin O'Loughlin (Iverk produce Carrick Wheelers), Richard Hooton (Osbourne Meats-Edge Sports) and Olan Barrett (Aquablue).

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The race was seven laps, with Olan Barrett saying anyone who missed the boat had little chance of getting across.

“We all worked extremely well straight away, every one of us just tapped away,” he said.

“It must have been a bit of a shock to those who missed it because the race was as good as over from the gun. We rode honest and with several teams up there, plenty more were taken by surprise behind."

The A3 race saw another win for the Aquablue team with Simon Duggan getting the better of Blarney CC's Brian O'Connell. Killarney's John Brosnan rounded out the podium after five laps for a total race distance of 78km.

The A4 race went to John Cahill (UDCC) from triathlete Chris Mintern (Aquablue) and Leonard O'Keeffe (Midleton CC) after four laps, or 66km.