Darragh O’Mahony adds the final stage of the Kanturk Three Day to his growing list of wins; scoring a hit for the promoting club while riding in the colours of Munster (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
Michael O'Loughlin has won the O'Leary's Stone Kanturk Three-Day this afternoon after withstanding a number of brave challenges to his yellow jersey.
The NRPT-Magnet.ie man, riding for Carrick Wheelers this weekend, came into the race as overwhelming favourite courtesy of his brilliant season to date and he did not disappoint.
He escaped with Sean Yelverton (Munster) in the latter part of the opening road stage on Saturday in sodden conditions.
They had both been clear in a large breakaway and when they managed to scarper away from that group they rode to the finish together, where Yelverton took the stage victory.
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Shane Scully of Nenagh CC comes in just ahead of Carrick Wheelers' rider Aaron Kearney for 2nd and 3rd on today's final stage (Photo with thanks to John Coleman of DC Images)
They both took around 25 seconds out of the remainder of the large escape group they had been in, with the peloton further back.
That set O’Loughlin up very nicely for the 8km stage 2 time trial yesterday morning.
He finished 8th in the junior time trial at the World Road Championships last September and as a specialist against the clock was expected to win the short test well.
He did just that and took the yellow jersey from the in-form Yelverton, who took victory at the VisitNenagh.ie Classic two weeks ago in his Mego Racing club colours.
Job done: O'Loughlin comes home in yellow to win the race outright at the end of the final stage (Photo with thanks to John Coleman of DC Images)
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Yesterday afternoon’s road stage was won by Damien Travers (Dungarvan CC) from his breakaway companion Brian McArdle (Orwell Wheelers).
However, yellow jersey O’Loughlin was safely in the main bunch and retained his lead going into today’s final road stage.
Darragh O'Mahony, riding for Munster this weekend but an O’Leary Stone Kanturk CC member, gave the home club plenty to cheer as he won the stage from Shane Scully (Nenagh CC) and Carrick Wheelers' rider Aaron Kearney.
All three were in the breakaway today, with O’Mahony getting clear alone for the latest in a growing number of wins.
The A2-A3 bunch getting ready to start this morning’s final stage (Photo: Brendan Slattery)
Scully and Kearney held off a fast finishing bunch for 2nd and 3rd on the day.
The sprint for 4th from the peloton was won by Dion McCarthy, with the Zanatta-Lotto rider from Cork having taken 3rd on the afternoon stage yesterday by similarly demolishing the bunch gallop.
The time gaps gained by the leading trio today were modest, and certainly not big enough to challenge O’Loughlin’s hold on yellow.
It means he adds the Kanturk Three Day crown to the Gorey Three Day title he won at Easter, when he also seized control in the time trial. His father, veteran Martin O’Loughlin of Carrick Wheelers, won two stages in Kanturk exactly 12 months ago.
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