JoeFenlon and Mark Power recorded a superb one – two for Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers in the club’s own promotion, the Tommy Sheehan Memorial, on Sunday last in Carrick-on-Suir. This was the main event of the day for senior first and second category riders, and was a fitting finale to a great day’s racing in memory of the club’s former chairman and president, the great Tommy Sheehan.
It was also fitting to have Carrick Wheelers provide the winner of the first race of the day, when Michael O’Loughlin was yet again winner of the under 12 race in emphatic style. Michael has been totally dominant in his category so far this season, and with this race literary finishing on his doorstep in Coolnamuck, he dominated the race from start to finish and sprinted to victory in brilliant style.
The under 14 race was won by Conor Arrigan of Dublin’s Orwell CC, the under 16 by Meath’s David Boyd of Clonard CC and the hotly contested combined race by Limerick CC Tom Shanahan, so clearly riders from all over the country travelled to Carrick for a great day’s racing.
However the high point of any race day has to be the main senior race, and although the field was small due to the fearsome reputation of the famous Kearney’s road circuit, the winner of the Tommy Sheehan Memorial is always going to have to earn the title and be a deserving winner. From the start club stalwart Joe Fenlon showed he meant business by being part of every breakaway attempt, and on the first ascent of the three and a half mile climb of Kearney’s Road, he had the rest of the field struggling to match his pace.
Soon the pressure told and Fenlon pulled clear with only his team-mate Mark Power for company. These two had been part of the club’s Tipperary team in the recent FBD Rás, and eight day’s racing against top professionals was now paying off as the forged a decisive lead over the fragmented main field behind. Starting the last lap the gap was out to an amazing four minutes as the Wheelers duo powered ahead, and in the final sprint to the line Fenlon was clearly strongest, with three lengths to spare over Power, but as Tommy Sheehan used to say it doesn’t matter which of them win as long as they are wearing a Carrick Wheelers jersey!!
Waterford’s Comeragh CC provided the next two home in Keith Gator and Robin Kelly, while the top six was completed by Michael Hennessy of Fermoy CC and Mick Fitzgerald of Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers.
******So a great day’s racing again promoted by the club, who would sincerely like to thank everyone who helped on the day, especially the local Gardaí and Civil Defence, the race stewards and motorbike marshals, and both St. Mollerans GAA club and Carrick United FC for the use of their facilities. Finally, of course, the race sponsor Carrick Cabs for their continued support and without whom events like this could not continue, go raimh míle maith agaibh go léir.
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