Sherlock steals yellow in West Kerry

Conor Murphy (Eurocycles) sprinted to a brilliant win in yesterday’s third stage of the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan as Ryan Sherlock (Iverk Produce/Carrick Wheelers) took custody of the yellow jersey after a gruelling 142-kilometre leg around West Kerry.

When Sherlock missed his chance of a stage win on Saturday’s summit finish on the Connor Pass, after being pipped on the line by Mark Dowling, many felt his chances of claiming glory were over for another year.

Dowling, son of legendary Irish boxer Mick, showed his class with the biggest win of his career, and with a star-studded DID Dunboyne team behind him, it was very much theirs to lose. Dowling held a two-second lead on Saturday night but at least 10 others were within a minute of him yesterday morning, with Sherlock leading the charge.