PAUL GRIFFIN of the Lee Strand club, Tralee, emerged as the bright new star on the cycling scene when he beat David Peelo of Sorrento at the end of the 87-mile Des Hanlon memorial race at Carlow yesterday.
This was 22-year-old Griffin's fourth win of the season and his best so far, and a call-up for international duty is imminent. He was successful in the Carrig Cup race at Carrick-on-Suir, a hill climb at Tralee and then the Kanturk Grand Prix last week. Griffin went on with Peelo on the final climb and sprinted ahead inside the last mile to win in impressive style.
A group of 16 formed at the front halfway around the circuit of Co Carlow, but the climb at The Butts with 15 miles left proved decisive.
With Peelo forcing the pace, the leading group was gradually reduced as only Griffin could stay with him.
Paddy Moriarty of Les Jeunes, who won the time trial in the universities championship at Limerick on Saturday. was involved in a bad crash during the Carlow event when he was knocked off his bike when struck by a car in Tullow and had to receive hospital attention.
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