Mark Dowling plays down prospects of securing back-to-back titles

Kerry Group Rás Mumhan champion Mark Dowling has played down his chances of repeating his heroics of 12 months ago when the race rolls out of Killorglin on Friday.

The four-day event is only second to the An Post Rás in terms of prestige and last year, Dowling joined many of the domestic scene’s luminaries with a gutsy win against the odds.

The DID Electrical Dunboyne man has been in good form of late, winning the Des Hanlon Memorial nine days ago, but believes it’ll be nigh on impossible to secure back-to-back wins in Kerry. “I’ll be one of the most-watched men in the race courtesy of last year,” said Dowling, “so to win is going to be extra hard.