Dan Kneen secures double success at Kells road races

Dan Kneen was also a double winner at the Tandragee 100

Manx rider Dan Kneen continued his impressive form as a debutant at the Irish national events by taking a double success at the Kells road races.

Kneen won the Open race and the Grand Final at the 2.25-mile Crossakeil circuit in County Meath.

Michael Sweeney was second and Jamie Hamilton third in both events.

Mullingar's Derek McGee won the 600cc Supersport class from Hamilton, Connor Behan was the Supertwins victor and Sweeney took the win in the 250cc race.

Sam Dunlop enjoyed success in the 125cc class, with William Cowden runner-up.

The Open race was a keenly fought affair, which saw McGee come off unhurt at the last corner in an attempt to take victory.

Derek Sheils, who sat out the recent Isle of Man TT to consider his road racing future, was fourth and Saintfield's Davy Morgan fifth.

Sheils occupied the same finishing position in the Grand Final, but Seamus Elliott saw off Morgan for fifth in the final race of the day.

Newcomer Behan took the flag ahead of McGee and Hamilton in the Supertwins, while Elliott and Tommy Henry completed the podium positions in the 250cc class.

Kneen won the main Cookstown 100 race in April as a newcomer and was a double winner on his first appearance at the Tandragee 100 a week later.

The Kells races were returning to the calendar after a three-year absence caused by a combination of financial restraints and bad weather.