Healion second and seals victory

PAUL HEALION (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group) sealed victory in the Credit Union Ras Mumhan 4-Day cycle race when he finished second to Mehall Fitzgerald (MyHome.ie/cycleways .com) in Killorglin yesterday.

He won by two minutes and 51 seconds from Martin O'Loughlin (Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers).

The 27-year-old Dubliner took the raceleader's yellow jersey at the end of Saturday's tough Valentia Ring stage and, after reinforcing his leadership in the time trial on Sunday morning and consolidating it in the Cahersiveen Criterium stage in the afternoon, his victory was never in serious doubt.

He left nothing to chance going out on yesterday's 50-mile stage fought out over three laps of the 15-mile Beaufort circuit followed by four laps of the traditional Donal McKenna Circuit around Killorglin.

The powerful Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn team, who would eventually claim the team title, massed in his defence with Conor Murphy, in the polka dot jersey of the mountains leader, leading up the hill every time except when he went out on the penultimate lap, when Healion, Denis Lynch (Fermoy A) and Brian Kenneally (MyHome.ie/cycleways) rode clear on the hill.

But Martin O'Loughlin and his Dan Morrissey Carrick team reacted to the move and the stage was decided in another fiercely fought sprint finish with Fitzgerald from Clonmel pumping the air before he crossed the line at the top of the hill.

Healion now has his sights on the FBD Insurance Ras and insisted that the whole Murphy and Gunn team will benefit from their weekend in Kerry.

"It was a very good race and everyone of the lads performed very well," he said. "I mean we have a lot of stars in this time a lot of strong riders and this was the first time everyone has been competing together. I am looking forward to the Ras."

Next weekend they will turn out in force once again for the Shay Elliott Memorial in Bray.

"Paul Healion deserved to win. He was the strongest man," Martin O'Loughlin said. "I was very pleased with the way things went. I won the 105-mile stage on Saturday and I was in contention right up to the finish. It was as much as I could hope for."

Murphy and Gunn claimed all the major jerseys yesterday. Healion also won the points jersey, Conor Murphy, coming off a 10-day course of antibiotics, had a spectacular weekend at the front of the bunch and was rewarded with the Polka Dot jersey while they also won the team title.

Andrew McQuaid (Martin Donnelly/Sean Kelly) won the U-23 title from his team mates Micheal Concannon and Paidi O'Brien and Marcus Treacy (Killarney CC) won a hotly contested Category 2 title.