Romano serves up a sprint special!

By Declan Quigley

Ace sprinter Romano Morelli opened up his win account for 2009 with an unstoppable burst of speed in round 19 of the Inter-Club League at Batterstown on Thursday night.

Morelli led in the Semi Limit/Limit group in the DMS races at the end of two laps of the Mullagh circuit for his first win of the season just days after leading the bunch in for second place in the IVCA Memorial Cup DMS.

Ronnie Brannigan's return to racing continued apace with a fine third place finish, just ahead of Ian O'Keefe.

In the Scratch race which began the evening's activities, Graham Thomas escaped the clutches of the bunch with IRC duo Shane Baker and Paul Dolan. Baker edged clear in the closing stages leaving Thomas to take the sprint for second.

Gary McNulty was third in the group sprint for sixth place on the night.

In the Semi-Scratch race Declan Quigley was fifth over the line in the group gallop behind race winner and league leader Aidan Yates (IRC).

Results

Scratch

1. Shane Baker (Usher Irish Road Club)
2. Graham Thomas (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
3. Paul Dolan (Usher Irish Road Club)
4. Brendan Whelan (Staggs Lucan CRC)
5. Fiachra O'Muire (Usher Irish Road Club)
6. Gary McNulty (Orwell Wheelers DTC)

Semi-Scratch

1. Aidan Yates (Usher Irish Road Club)
2. Brian Reynolds (Staggs Lucan CRC)
3. Philip Browne (Usher Irish Road Club)
4. Dave Caroll (Usher Irish Road Club)
5. Declan Quigley (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
6. Richie Dunne (Usher Irish Road Club)

Limit/Semi-Limit

1. Romano Morelli (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
2. Daragh Zaidan (Staggs Lucan CRC)
3. Ronnie Brannigan (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
4. Ian O'Keefe (Orwell Wheelers DTC)
5. Gillian McDarby (Usher Irish Road Club)
6. Brian Kilbride (St. Tiernans CC)