Paidi O’Brien sprints in for title win in Fermoy after textbook team work

By Brian Canty

Paidi O’Brien (Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes) went one better than his second-place finish at the Leahy Cup at the weekend when he won the Cork County Road Race Championships in Fermoy this evening, Tuesday.

The diminutive Banteer native won ahead of Eddie Barry (Blarney CC), with Fermoy man Eoin McCarthy, riding in the colours of Belgian-based outfit Asfra Racing, in third.

That trio had been part of a four-man group that escaped with two of the six laps remaining and though they only had a handful of seconds on the pack behind they managed to stay clear, with O’Brien dashing to the line first by a few bike lengths.

The other man who had been part of that four-man break was Mick Fitzgerald, a loyal team-mate of O’Brien’s. And it was arguably his strong pull on the last lap up the decisive drag - where the group had gone away a lap previously - that set up O’Brien for the win.

Fitzgerald put the hammer down and that had the effect of scuppering his own chances, but it also took the sting out of Blarney’s Barry who lost contact some 2km from the finish.

But Barry is made of tough stuff and he regained contact on the last bend with McCarthy now at the front and driving it, eager not to be caught by the rapidly approaching bunch.

That played into O’Brien’s hands perfectly and he attacked the gallop for the win; Barry and McCarthy having no answer.

Barry Twohig of Blarney then led in the bunch for fourth place.

The title race took the format of A1s, A2s and A3s all off together and despite a number of attacks, particularly from local man Olan Barrett who must have tried a dozen times on the night to get clear, none were successful.

Timmy Barry put in a number of useful looking digs off the front and he, along with Eoin McCarthy, got 15 seconds at one stage before they were reeled in.

Indeed, six laps over a 7km course was always going to be tough to get away on, particularly with such a large turnout but it didn’t stop plenty of riders from trying.

Fitzgerald, Barry and O’Brien, as well as Dylan Foley (St Finbarrs) were always at the head of affairs and the decisive move came on lap four with Fitzgerald marking a McCarthy move, and Barry jumping across to them before O’Brien then joined and they quickly had 20 seconds.

Barrett tried going across with Foley and a Cork County CC rider but they never made any real inroads.

Once the victory was settled up the road, Brendan McLoughlin did a perfect lead out for his team-mate Twohig, who put in a fine finishing kick for fourth.

O’Brien took his win well in Fermoy to lift the Cork County Champ title

RACE RESULT

1 P O’Brien (Dan Morrissey-Speedy Spokes)
2 E Barry (Blarney CC)
3 E McCarthy (Asfra Racing)
4 B Twohig (Blarney CC)
5 B Canty (Wills Wheels Cork County CC)
6 D McCarthy (Fermoy CC)
7 J Murphy (Fermoy CC)
8 L Dumoulin (Kanturk CC)

Medals

Cat. 1 Matt Linehan Shield
1^st Paidi O Brien, Dan Morrissey Speedy Spokes.
2^nd Eddie Barry, Blarney
3^rd Olan Barrett, Fermoy.

Cat 2
1^st Eoin McCarthy, ASFRA
2^nd Brian Canty, Wills Wheels Cork County
3^rd John Murphy Fermoy

Cat. 3
1^st Barry Twohig, Blarney
2^nd Dave McCarthy, Fermoy
3^rd Robert Forrest, Blarney

Cat. 4
1^st Kevin Kiely, Fermoy
2^nd Brendan O Leary, Blarney
3^rd R Dunne, O Leary Stone Kanturk

U 16
1^st Eddie Dunbar, O Leary Stone Kanturk
2^nd Dylan O Brien O Leary Stone Kanturk
3^rd S Shanahan Limerick CC
1^st U/15 unplaced Jeremy Lawlor O Leary Stone Kanturk

U 14
1^st Dion McCarthy Fermoy
2^nd Dylan Corkery O Leary Stone Kanturk
3^rd R Dunne O Leary Stone Kanturk

1^st unplaced U/13 T Knight O Leary Stone Kanturk

U 12
1^st Emily Birchall, Fermoy
2^nd Eoin Birchall, Fermoy
3^rd Leah Maunsell, Ballyhaura
1^st unplaced U/11 Laura Birchell, Fermoy.