Race Diary of Cian Lynch,
Swords McNally Joinery

Race: Tour of Munster, Stage 3,  23rd April 2000

Day 3 of the race, and Eddie O’ Donoghoe has taken the yellow. The sense of disharmony in the team (go on boys, deny it!) might well leave the gate open for Paddy Moriarty to take over the yellow, nonetheless, with Brian Kenneally still riding well and O’Loughlin well placed overall, Carrick could afford to spice things up a bit. The race was to take in a climb early in the race at 6 miles at Portroe, where we were to descend to Ballina Village, so the plan would have been to sit in.

Flag down and off we go on our merry way. Shane Baker, who is riding very strongly this weekend and yours truly take off up the road. Reeled in a couple of miles up the road, the attacks keep on coming. Eddie was busy watching Paddy (not busy enough apparently) and no sooner did we hit Portroe than for the first time on this stage I was to view the magnificence of the peleton from the back. Crest the top, pass Mr. Bannon and into the cars, and back on. Too bloody early to go out the back anyways.. . and into Portroe we descend. Switching right over the bridge and I take off once again with Brian Lennon, and quickly joined by Eugene Moriarty at about 400 miles an hour, and then Bill and Kieran McMahon come across. Interesting possibilities, but Bracken takes off up the road when we are reeled in with one of the Morrissey riders and manages to stay away for a good way up the climb after Ogonnelloe Village. Managing to stay in along this section, we descended at speed, after which a group slipped off, containing initially Eugene Moriarty, Paddy of the same surname and Kenneally, quickly to be joined by some dozen riders, with Bill Moore, Martin O Loughlin, Brian Quinn, Brian Lennon, McNena, Colm Bracken, Kieran McMahon amongst others.

Over another drag, during which I go out the back, and digging in to get back on, I pass the commissaries car. Why is it that they always insist on leaving that big gap, then staring at you with a stupid blankness – there you are suffering like a dog, here I am in my car passing you…..

Needless to say, as I join the back of the peleton again, Aidan drops back for a bottle. As he rejoins the back of the group, I bring him back up to the front. Martin is on his wheel, and as we hit the head of the bunch, the pair of them take off up the road. Eddie in yellow, accelerates, and despite telling Pep to go up and join the lads, he ends up sparring verbally with the Carrick man, giving me enough time to attempt to join the two lads up the road. In my company is Sean Bracken, Shane Prendergast, Mick Mulcahy, Andy Meehan, John Horgan, Ritchie Cahill, Macker, a couple of our country cousins from Killarney and last on, Shane Baker. As we joined up with Aidan and Martin, the hammer went down. Now let it be known that yours truly was on his ear, seeing stars and so on. Reason enough for me to sit on the back.

With the riders doing up and over, I decide to sit on Mick Mulcahys' wheel, not so much because I wasn’t prepared to work, but that by being anywhere further up the line, the chances were that when I did eventually go out the back, I wouldn’t take someone else with me. In fairness to the Irish Road Club (Ushers), as Mr. Lennon informed me this morning, they worked very well up and over, joined now and again by other members of the group. Through Ballina, and numerous cars either side of the road, up a drag and I dig in again. Andy Meehan shouts words of encouragement, just enough to get me over the top. As we hit the approach to Portroe, where I suffered on the first day, went out the back to be exact, and had forgotten the approach altogether. As I went out the back AGAIN, I was disappointed to realise that that last the final drag was the crest at Portroe! Ah well, trying to ride over the top in case there was a chance that I might get back on, I decided rolling in in as big a gear as would get me in the mood for time trialling, I know that it won’t be long until I am joined by a few who have left the remnants behind. Indeed, Dave Peelo and Johnny McCarthy spin up and give me a tow into the finish. Out the back, in the bunch, off the front, in the bunch, out the back, off the front, sitting on, out the back, on my own, and sitting on again. What a bloody day.

Up the road, Colm Bracken took a deserved stage win, and Paddy Moriarty takes the jersey. Well-done Paddy. Ritchie Cahill takes second overall (no comment) and Shane Baker takes third overall. Martin O’Loughlin will still be up overall, Eddie won’t, and that’s cycling folks. Tomorrow’s stage is a 64 mile spin through Birr, Borrisokane, finishing in, yes, that’s right, Nenagh. The team is riding well, getting set for next weekend too.  

IrishCycling.Com: Would like to thank Cian for his excellent report