Diarmuid CollinsDiarmuid Collins swiftly made up for any disappointment he may have felt at missing out on the Inter Club League title  when he scored a fine maiden win in the Kevin McInerny A3 Race at the Usher Irish Road Club promotion in Dunlavin.

After a strong first full season of racing, Collins has been hovering on the cusp of an upgrade to A2 for a few races now and made the step up in fine style by soloing the final 25km to the line at the end of 75km of racing on a very challenging course in West Wicklow.

Leading the field through after two of three 25km laps, Collins led a group of three holding a small advantage over the bunch. While his two companions dropped back to the bunch, Collins forged on alone and any suggestions that his move was a little foolhardy were rebuffed as he fended off the pursuit with a relentless display of power and commitment.

Never more than 20 seconds ahead, Collins’ strength was matched by endurance as he retained enough power to race up the finishing drag to the line with time in hand for a two-fisted salute.

Behind him, a break of seven riders detached themselves from the bunch including the winner’s team mate and namesake Aidan Collins who just missed out on a prize but showed that the form is returning fast after a long mid season layoff.

In the A4 race Eamonn Finn also rubberstamped recent great form after a layoff off of 18 months when he took seventh place, his second week in a row in the prizes in open competiton. In the A1/A2 race, Dan Whiting raced strongly to finish in a much depleted bunch.

Meanwhile in the IVCA Memorial Cups, Romano Morelli showed that his great recent form is far from a flash in the pan with another prestigious win, taking race two in a sprint.

Kevin McInerney Memorial (A3)
1, Diarmuid Collins (Orwell Wheelers);
2, Eoin Whelan (Laois CC);
3, Michael Doyle (Barrow Wheelers);
4, Damien Kelly (Epic MTB);
5, Paddy Ennis (Unattached);
6, Senan O'Dwyer (Limerick CC);
7, Brendan Maloney (South Dublin Zilcom);
8, Mark Mearns (Staggs Lucan CRC).

 A4 Race

1, Liam Blanchfield (Unattached);
2, Derek Clifford (Naas CC);
3, Alan Cullen (Park Wheelers);
4, Daryl Bent (Staggs Lucan);
5, Barry Sheridan (Staggs Lucan);
6, David McCann (Park Wheelers);
7, Eamonn Finn (Orwell Wheelers)
8, Paul Cullinane (Sorrento CC).