EIRE OG CYCLING CLUB

It has been back to business for the last few weeks for the Martin Cadden sponsored Eire Og Racing Team as the racing season is now in full swing. The Cadden sponsored squad recently travelled to Navan for The Cycleways Cup and Clonard for Ras Naoimh Finian.

 Lining out at the Cycleways Cup were Basil Freeman and Dara Mooney. Both riders rode well in the 130km event on a very tough course and were pleased to finish in the main bunch on their first outing of the season. In Clonard for Ras Naoimh Finian the Cadden squad brought the big guns out with Turlough Mooney, Colm Casey and an in form Michael Devins joining the old guard of Basil Freeman and Dara Mooney. The race was run as a handicap event over an 80km circuit with 2 KOH primes. As a 4th category rider Casey was sent off with the limit group and wasted no time in setting a furious pace at the front of his group that saw many of the less fit riders losing contact early on. Freeman rode in the next group and like Casey was eager to make good use of the time gap back to the scratch riders. He rode very aggressively and soon found himself off the front of the group with 3 other riders. The remaining Eire Og riders started in the scratch group and had a deficit of 10 minutes to make up on the groups ahead. This was never going to be an easy task considering the huge size of the groups ahead; nevertheless the Cadden boys went to work at the head of the peloton and were instrumental in reeling in the middle bunch at the 50 km mark. At this stage Freeman was still dangling off the front with a slender lead of 10 seconds, however this didn’t last long though as the arrival of the scratch group breathed new life into the bunch and they quickly overtook Freeman and his fellow escapees.

With 20km left in the race the lead group containing Eire Og rider Colm Casey was still 3 minutes ahead and fully committed to holding off the charge of the main bunch. Despite some huge efforts by the Engraveit squad of 2 times Ras Tailteann winner Phil Cassidy and some sharp attacks by ex Eire Og rider Desi Foley of Newry Wheelers the limit group were not caught and in the sprint to the line Casey finished inside the top 10. 1 minute later as the main bunch charged to the line Devins was setting himself up to unleash his famous sprint but unfortunately was impeded by 2 riders clashing in front of him. All of the Cadden sponsored boys finished well to the fore of the main bunch and were happy with their efforts for the day.

This week sees the squad travel to Westport for Ras Mhaigheo on St. Patricks Day before the Annual Markievicz Cup and Mooney Trophy races are held in Collooney at the weekend. The Markievicz Cup is open to all racing categories and stats at 2 pm on Saturday March 20th while The Mooney Trophy takes place on Sunday March 21st at 1pm and is open to A2,A3 & A riders only. Sign on for both events is at The Teeling Centre in Collooney.

Check out our website www.eireogcycling.com for race reports and our all new blog.