Cassidy’s yellow, just like dad

EXACTLY 25 years and a day after his father, Philip, claimed his first yellow jersey in the FBD Insurance Rás, Mark Cassidy donned the yellow fleece for the first time in Lisdoonvarna after yesterday’s dramatic stage from Claremorris.

It was a historic day —not just for the Cassidy family but for the Rás itself — as the 23-year-old Dunboyne man took custody of the jersey from his An Post/Sean Kelly team-mate, Stephen Gallagher.

His illustrious father went on to win the overall title in 1983 and would come back to reclaim it 16 years later, amassing a total of 18 yellow jerseys in all as his son took little more than a passing interest in his achievements.