Mark Shannon Claims M40 Gold as Paul Kennedy Soloes to M45 National Title in Kilmacthomas: Burren CC dominate with Cat wins and team gold on a selective Waterford circuit.
A peloton of 46 riders set out from Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford for the 2026 Cycling Ireland Masters National Road Race Championships combined M40/M45 event, covering 120 km over six laps of a 20 km circuit.
Hosted by Dungarvan CC in ideal conditions with a light refreshing mist that cleared to a sunny afternoon with only the slightest of headwinds on the outward section of the course.
The race produced aggressive, high-quality racing on excellent roads. There were no major climbs, but repeated bumps, especially on the outward and backend sections, which gradually exacted their toll.
Six medals were available across the two age groups (GOLD, SILVER, and BRONZE), plus team gold (x3) for the winning eligible squad from: Burren CC, Lucan CRC, and Carlow RC.
Early Aggression Sets the Tone
The first attacks came quickly, with Shane Fleming, Tralee Manor West BC, leading up the opening rise after about five kilometres. All 46 riders remained together approaching the end of the first lap.
Into the second lap, defending champion Ronan Killeen, Lucan CRC, sensed the course was proving more demanding than it had looked on paper. His teammates kept the pressure high through the opening 20kms and noticed riders beginning to tire and respond less sharply to moves.
Seizing the moment, he attacked again and established a clear gap, riding alone for roughly a lap and a half with the advantage stretching beyond a minute.
However, he recognised it was still early and the effort too prolonged to sustain alone, so he eased slightly for the group just behind, with the peloton a further 25 seconds back.
The group that came across included Ellis Allen, Phoenix CC, Robert Wade, Unattached Munster, Paul Coffey, Fingal Road Racing Club, and Daniel Lynch, O’Leary Stone Kanturk CC, and the race was reignited. A long way to go yet though!
Everything had regrouped by the start of lap three, only for further attacks to fly involving Frank Doherty, Killarney CC, Aaron Parks, Banbridge CC, Daryl Kearns, Dungarvan CC, Mark Shannon, Burren CC, and Darragh McCarter, Caldwell Powerhouse Racing.
The Race Takes Shape
By the back of lap three, favourites Paul Kennedy, Burren CC, and Killeen, together with the previous day’s ITT Silver medalist Robert Wade, Unattached Munster, had opened a 20-second advantage.
That gap grew to a full minute on the latter stages of lap four, with another group of around 15 riders sitting a further 40 seconds back, and the remainder of peloton under pressure.
Shannon had growing concerns now with Kennedy and Killeen clear with Wade (M40), realising the latter’s risk for his own M40 ambitions.
So at the beginning of lap five, he and local Dungarvan CC rider, Daryl Kearns, produced a determined and impressive bridging effort to reach the front three.
Once across, the five rode through together for about a lap before Kennedy attacked again, with Killeen responding.
The pair gained a small advantage. Killeen later suffered a mechanical on a corner, losing his chain and briefly running onto the grass. In the time it took to recover, Kennedy pressed on hard.
He’s a super rider. it’s very hard to close the gap when it’s man v man.
Ronan Killeen, Lucan CRC
Closing that gap in a pure man-versus-man situation proved extremely difficult against Kennedy.
Kennedy Takes Control
By the closing stages of lap five the front group had fragmented. Kennedy held roughly 15 seconds on Killeen, who in turn had a similar buffer over Shannon and Wade, with Kearns another 15 seconds further back after the earlier bridging effort began to tell, and was dropped on this final section for good.
The remainder of the main peloton was already more than 1:40 in arrears and starting to split further.
Kennedy, fresh from his M45 ITT title the previous day, simply switched into full time-trial mode. With about 15kms remaining, he had stretched the lead to a minute, and the advantage continued to grow inevitably as teammate Shannon marked Killeen and Wade behind.
The Burren CC man rolled in solo as a clear, impressive and worthy winner in 2:57:44, finishing 2 minutes 37 seconds clear of Killeen to take M45 Gold and M45 Silver respectively.
Behind, Shannon and Wade contested the remaining open race M40/M45 podium place. Shannon backed himself in the finish and held off Wade by a single second to secure that third spot overall and M40 Gold. M40 Silver went to Wade. Kearns took M40 Bronze, while Artur Michalek, Stamullen RC, completed the M45 podium.
Local Motivation and Strong Competition
For Robert Wade, a Portlaw man who had attended school in Kilmacthomas, the decision to race on home roads back from the US was straightforward.
In the end i got 2nd (M40). I came to try to get the win but fair play to Mark, he had a good kick at the end.
Robert Wade, Unattached Munster
He found the course a real strongman’s circuit and worked hard to feature in the key moves throughout, ultimately settling for a hard-earned second in the M40 category after Shannon produced the stronger kick.
Daryl Kearns was delighted to claim bronze on home roads amid genuinely strong competition.
A good race. Really, really good competition. delighted to take the bronze medal there today.
Daryl Kearns, Dungarvan CC
Shannon, for his part, had remained measured when Killeen first went clear alone, then worked repeatedly with teammate Kennedy to force the decisive splits before producing the final finishing effort that sealed his own national title.
As impressive as Paul Kennedy‘s ride was today, and it was just that, the 2025 Champion for his part left absolutely everything out on the road with a gutsy title defence as well as being magnanimous in defeat.
You know I had a fantastic time wearing the champion’s jersey. fair play to him and I hope he enjoys the year.
Ronan Killeen, Lucan CRC
Mark Shannon was visibly delighted. A modest hard-working honest rider getting the just rewards for an excellent season so often understandably overshadowed by his 2022 Rás Tailteann winner and current number one in the Irish rankings home based rider Daire Feeley.
I just backed myself for the finish. Luckily enough it worked out. So happy out. Delighted to get this. A great way to finish the year.
Mark Shannon, Burren CC
Not to mention the superb Paul Kennedy, who adds another win to his already impressive season.
Burren CC completed a dominant day by also taking the combined M40/M45 team Gold with Kennedy, Shannon and Jarlath Hassett.
Magnificent aggressive racing throughout with the favourites showing up, excellent organisation by the host club Dungarvan CC, and thoroughly deserving champions. Attention now turns to Bray Wheelers Festival of Racing 19th – 20th September for the final major outing of the domestic season.
M40 Podium
- Mark Shannon – Burren CC
- Robert Wade – Unattached Munster
- Daryl Kearns – Dungarvan CC
M45 Podium
- Paul Kennedy – Burren CC
- Ronan Killeen – Lucan CRC
- Artur Michalek – Stamullen RC
Team Gold (M40/M45 Combined)
Burren CC – Paul Kennedy (M45), Mark Shannon (M40), Jarlath Hassett (M45)
Combined M40 / M45 Road Race Results
- Paul Kennedy (M45) – Burren Cycling Club 2:57:44
- Ronan Killeen (M45) – Lucan Cycling Road Club +2:43
- Mark Shannon (M40) – Burren Cycling Club +3:10
- Robert Wade (M40) – Unattached Munster +3:11
- Daryl Kearns (M40) – Dungarvan CC +5:20
- Artur Michalek (M45) – Stamullen RC
- Bryan Geary (M45) – St Tiernans Cycling Club +5:49
- Aaron Parks (M45) – Banbridge CC +5:59
- Adam Greally (M45) – St Tiernans Cycling Club
- Keith Walsh (M45) – Greenmount CA
- Michael Storan (M45) – West Clare Cycling Club
- Jonathan Taylor (M45) – Carn Wheelers
- John Kenny (M45) – Navan Road Club
- Paul Coffey (M45) – Fingal Road Racing Club
- Shane Quinn (M40) – Longford Cycling & Racing Club
- Darragh McCarter (M40) – Caldwell Powerhouse Racing
- Jarlath Hassett (M45) – Burren Cycling Club +6:02
- Stuart McCaughey (M45) – Phoenix CC
- Frank Doherty (M40) – Killarney Cycling Club
- Jamie Phillips (M40) – Velo Revolution / Speed Queen
- Colin Clavin (M40) – Streamstown Cycling Club +6:30
- Jonathan Coen (M45) – Dromore CC +12:53
- Shane Fleming (M45) – Tralee Manor West BC +13:08
- Lukasz Rusinkowski (M40) – Team 905
- Stephen Connor (M40) – Roadman Cycling Club +13:12
- Eldon Looney (M45) – Unattached Munster
- Stefano Coppola (M40) – Greenmount CA +13:30
- Simon Torrens-Spence (M40) – Crossgar Cycling Club +27:15
