Leader Kenneally holds slim cushion

CYCLING: With just one stage remaining in the Rás Mumhan, Brian Kenneally is holding a slender lead at the top of the general…

CYCLING:With just one stage remaining in the Rás Mumhan, Brian Kenneally is holding a slender lead at the top of the general classification.

The MyHome.ie/Dunboyne CC rider finished second on Friday's stage-one time trial, three seconds behind victor Ray Clarke (Dan Morrissey), then moved into the lead when he finished with a 12-man front group on Saturday's 96-mile leg to Castleisland.

The former national champion Morgan Fox (Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group) came out best, moving to fourth in the general classification. But he dropped back on yesterday's Ring of Kerry stage, won by the Giant Asia rider Paul Griffin.

The Kerryman finished four seconds ahead of second-placed Kenneally, cutting his overall deficit to six seconds.

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The race concludes today with a 60-mile stage in Killorglin.

The talented young rider Isaac Speirs is also within striking distance of Kenneally, setting things up for a good fight.

RÁS MUMHAN - Stage 1 (Time Trial, Killorglin): 1 Ray Clarke (Dan Morrissey) 8 mins 35 secs; 2 B Kenneally (My Home.ie/Dunboyne CC) at 3 secs; 3 C Birch (Surrey League) at 6 secs. Stage 2 (Killorglin to Castleisland, 96 miles): 1 Morgan Fox (Murphy & Gunn Newlyn Sean Kelly Team) 3hrs 44mins 56 secs; 2 S McDonald (My Home.ie/Dunboyne CC); 3 G Dodd (Surrey). Stage 3 - (Waterville - Ring of Kerry stage): 1, Paul Griffin (Giant Asia) 2 hrs 29 mins 54 secs; 2, B Kenneally (Myhome.ie/Dunboyne CC) at 4 secs; 3 I Speirs (Murphy & Gunn/Newlyn Group) at 6 secs. Overall classification: 1, Kenneally 6 hrs 23 mins 32 secs; 2 Griffin at 6 secs; 3, Speirs at 12 secs.

Shane Stokes

Shane Stokes

Shane Stokes is a contributor to The Irish Times writing about cycling