Killarney Cycling Club’s Sam Bolger was the best placed Kerry rider in the four-day Kerry Group Rás Mumhan over the Easter weekend.

Kerry’s only international cycle race attracted the top competitors from around the country as well as a number of very strong teams from the UK.

Fast aggressive racing was on the cards for all four stages which produced for excellent spectating and a race title that came down to single-digit seconds on the final day in the iconic Killorglin Town circuit stage.

Killarney Cycle Club hosted the second stage which started from St Oliver's School Ballycasheen, and finished in Sneem via a processionary roll out through Main Street and High Street and an ascent of the challenging Ballaghisheen Climb.

“The club had two teams of five in this year's race,” said club secretary Niamh Sheehan.

“Throughout the Easter weekend, the team experienced some highs along with its share of bad luck. Sam Bolger rode aggressively for the four days which saw him take home the Liam Brick Memorial Shield for the best Kerry rider, and also finish second in the A2 Classification. The club also had Shane Spellman and Ewan Buckley chasing the A3 classification and both were unlucky to narrowly miss out on taking home the jersey on the final day.”

Frank Doherty, Mark McGlynn and Lorcan Daly were the other local riders within the Killarney CC teams but unfortunate to be dealt some bad luck over the weekend resulting in retirement from the race.

Local riders Richard Maes and David Culloty competed in this year’s race for Team All Human - VeloRevolution and both rode well to protect their team leader - last year's Rás Tailteann winner Daire Feeley, as well as finishing inside the top third of the General Classification.

Benny Cassidy also took part in the Rás Mumhan with Blarney Cycling Club and finished the weekend strong inside the top 100.