Paidi O’Brien wins Stage 4 into Cahirsiveen - Photographer Stephen McCarthy

With one stage left in the Credit Union Ras Mumhan 4 Day International Cycle Race, Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group rider Paul Healion is almost three minutes clear of his closest rival Martin O’Loughlin (Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers).

The Dubliner was 31 seconds back after finishing tenth on Friday’s first stage but then bounced back into the overall lead when he finished second to O’Loughlin on yesterday’s 102 mile Valentia Ring stage. He defended the yellow jersey in great style this morning when he dominated the time trial from Beaufort to Killorglin.

Healion beat team-mates Andrew Roche and Simon Kelly by 9 and 47 seconds respectively and with O’Loughlin 58 seconds back in fifth, he opened up the same margin in the overall standings. The two had previously been separated only by points.

Paídi O’Brien then took the second win this year for the Sean Kelly – ACLVB M. Donnelly Racing Team when he sprinted to victory in this afternoon’s criterium in Cahirsiveen. Stage one winner Thomas Rabou (Team Altipower/Netherlands), Marco Schreiber (RennTeam FOCUS/Germany) and Daniel Lynch (Fermoy) were next across the line, while Healion was sixth. Crucially, O’Loughlin missed the 16 man break that went clear halfway through the stage, finishing in the main bunch 1 minute and 50 seconds back.

He will begin the 58 mile Western Union final stage 2 minutes and 48 seconds in arrears. Kelly is third, 3 minutes and 26 seconds down.



Stage 3, Beaufort to Killorglin time trial:

1, Paul Healion (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group) 10 kilometres in 15 mins 10 secs
2, Andrew Roche (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group) at 9 secs
3, Simon Kelly (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group) at 47 secs
4, Michael Concannon (Sean Kelly - ACLVB M. Donnelly Racing Team) at 55 secs
5, Martin O’Loughlin (Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers) at 58 secs
6, Rory Wyley (Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers) at 1m 6secs

Overall after stage 3:

1, Paul Healion
2, O’Loughlin, at 58 secs
3, Kelly, at 3 mins 26 secs


Stage 4, Cahirsiveen Credit Union Criterium:

1, Paidi O’Brien (Sean Kelly - ACLVB M. Donnelly Racing Team) 1 hour 11 mins 19 secs
2, Thomas Rabou (Team Altipower) at 2 secs
3, Marco Schreiber (RennTeam FOCUS) at 4 secs
4, Daniel Lynch (Fermoy) at 5 secs
5, Gary Dodd (Surrey)
6, Paul Healion (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group) both same time


Overall after 4 stages:

1, Paul Healion (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group) 7 hours 12 mins 51 secs
2, Martin O’Loughlin (Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers) at 2 mins 48 secs
3, Simon Kelly (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group) at 3 mins 26 secs
4, Niek Asbroke (Team Altipower) at 3 mins 37 secs
5, Ronny Hartz (RennTeam FOCUS) at 4 mins 42 secs
6, Daniel Lynch (Fermoy) at 4 mins 43 secs
7, Gary Dodd (Surrey) at 4 mins 57 secs
8, Rory Wyley (Dan Morrissey Carrick Wheelers) at 5 mins 44 secs
9, Conor Murphy (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group) at 5 mins 58 secs
10, Andrew McQuaid (Sean Kelly - ACLVB M. Donnelly Racing Team) at 6 mins 19 secs

Under 23:

1, Andrew McQuaid (Sean Kelly - ACLVB M. Donnelly Racing Team) 7 hours 19 mins 10 secs
2, Michael Concannon (Sean Kelly - ACLVB M. Donnelly Racing Team) at 1 min 54 secs
3, Paídi O’Brien (Sean Kelly - ACLVB M. Donnelly Racing Team) at 2 mins 8 secs


Category 2:

1, Gary McNulty (Orwell Dundrum Town Centre) 7 hours 25 mins 38 secs
2, Adrian Crowley (Fermoy B) at 12 secs
3, Michael O’Reilly (Fermoy B) at 33 secs

Points:

1, Paul Healion, 30
2, Thomas Rabou , 29
3, Paídi O’Brien, 27


Team:

1, Murphy and Gunn, 21 hours 45 mins 24 secs
2, Surrey League, at 11 mins 9 secs
3, Dan Morrissey, at 12 mins 14 secs