Kieran McCarthy of Greenmount Cycling Academy won the combined Tipperary and Kilkenny Road Race Championships promoted by Black House Racing in Cashel today. He was part of a three-man breakaway that struck out from the A3 group with about 12km to go and just about made it all the way.
However, while it looked like the three A3 riders in the breakaway had the medals wrapped up in the handicapped race, U23 international Patrick O'Loughlin (Panduit Carrick Wheelers) could see the riders in the silver and bronze positions ahead of him as the finish line approached.
And though it looked like O'Loughlin had far too much ground to make up, even when his rivals were just a few metres from the line, he somehow made it up to them and split them right on the line - see video below.
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Just a few seconds down on winner McCarthy came Con Kennedy (Nenagh Cycling Club) and Kenneth Kennedy (Greenmount Cycling Academy), who had been with the winner in the three-man breakaway. But just as the two Kennedys came to the line, looking absolutely assured of the silver and bronze medals, they slowed up.
O'Loughlin, who started in the scratch group today, came through like a train all the way to the line, making up massive ground on the two riders just ahead of him.
Con Kennedy took the sliver before O'Loughlin came through with the fastest and latest charge you'll see in a sprint this year. He managed to pip Kenneth Kennedy for bronze; the Greenmount rider's cause not helped by the fact he seemed to be suffering from cramp right at the finish.
More to come.
