Caroline Ryan and Eoin Mullens earn top 20 spots for Ireland’s track cycling team

The Irish track team brought their World Championships campaign to a conclusion in Paris yesterday, with the standout performances coming from Caroline Ryan and Eoin Mullen.

World U23 TT silver medallist Ryan Mullen was seventh in the individual pursuit on Saturday, Eoin Mullen set a new personal best for the sprint and finished inside the top 20 while Caroline Ryan was third in the scratch race of her omnium and 15th overall.

Elsewhere, former world champion Martyn Irvine finished 17th in his omnium, a result that masks some tremendous performances over the two-day event.

Meanwhile, Seán McKenna opened his and his new team Aquablue CC’s account for 2015 with a brilliant victory in the Lacey Cup yesterday, promoted by Tralee BC-Manor West Hotel.

The former UCD CC man edged emerging junior rider Simon Tuomey (Cork Giant CC) to the line at the end of the 75km event with O’Leary’s Stone Kanturk man Darragh O’Mahony rounding out the podium.

In Connacht, Paddy Clarke started his season with a fine victory in the West Coast Wheelers Open Race in Loughrea, Co Galway.

He edged out breakaway partner Daire Feeley (iTap) while in the feature race in Leinster Darragh Zaidan (Adamstown CC) won the Traders’ Cup in Dundalk.