By Evan Dalton for TheCollegeView Lara Gillespe celebrates gold at the 2025 UCI World Championship - Photo  : Javier Torres/AFP via Getty Images The sporting sphere in Ireland is ball dominated. Football, GAA, rugby, the new found love for the NFL and even those glorious weeks of wall to wall hockey coverage in 2018 when the Irish women’s team reached the world cup final, the media and our television guides are wall to wall ball sport coverage.  However, if we look past our traditional ‘ball’ sports, there is a hidden gem developing monstrous  Irish talent, and that is cycling. Across both codes, track cycling and events that take place on the road, Ireland have had their most successful two years in quite some time, and it’s only going to get better.  The Government of Ireland gave the green light this week for construction of a new National Velodrome in Abbotstown, expanding the Sport Ireland Campus further. Sport Ireland first got plans in motion in 2023, and afte...

By Evan Dalton for LoveBallymena Local racing drivers Ronan Doherty and Sean McClements have had excellent years competing in the Irish Formula Vee Championship. The two cousins, residing on the outskirts of Ballymena, near Dunloy, both achieved great success racing in Mondello Park and Kirkistown. Doherty was victorious in the category's biggest race, th e‘Leinster Trophy.’ Dohertyt put his name on the famous cup alongside Formula 1 world champions Ayrton Senna and Mika Hakkinen. McClements earned pole position for the final round of the championship, in just his second ever weekend competing. The two drivers first started their racing career racing on their computer, in what’s known as ‘sim racing.’ With thanks to the success of them both, Formula Vee Ireland are looking for more sim racers to join their field! Becoming a racing driver is not easy. From the moment you start in karts at a young age, and progress through low single seater categories, the cost involved is colossal. ...

  By Evan Dalton for Bwoah Motorsport and RTA Virtual Motorsport  After the trials and tribulations of Donington Park, the paddock embarked on an hour trip north to Little Budworth and the famous Oulton Park circuit. Up until 1973, racing was only permitted on Saturdays and bank holidays, but when Ireland’s Tuesday night entertainment calls, there’s only one answer, and the grid lined out for Round 4 of the RTA Virtual Motorsport Formula Vee Ireland Series.  If anyone ever asked you to describe the typical weather on November 11th, tonight’s qualifying session was the perfect example. The eyes of those who favour wet weather were gleaming, and specifically Dylan McClements who set the early pace. The rain was suspected to get lighter, and it did marginally, but the championship leader was able to take pole position for the second time this season, just ahead of his brother.  Just behind the McClements front row, was their cousin. Not exactly a shock in RTA to see. “O...

By Evan Dalton for Bwoah Motorsport and RTA Virtual Motorsport The sun was sweltering upon one of Britain’s popular rock festival venues, but tonight Donington Park was playing host to what it knows best - brilliant budget single seater racing.  The RTA Virtual Motorsport Formula Vee Ireland Series returned for Round 3 of the thrilling championship, with another trifecta of heats on offer. Two time champion Dylan McClements held the top of the standings upon arrival to the paddock, but plenty of drivers were in hot pursuit.  The early qualifying pace was once again set by Shaun McGoldrick, in similar fashion to the season opener, but it was Brandon McCaughan who denied the synchronised slipstream efforts of Conor Melia,  Sean McClements and Peter McCann, to take his first ever RTA pole position late in the session.  Heat 1 With lights out, the lead was immediately lost to Dylan McClements into the ‘Old Hairpin.’ McCaughan fought back and retook his place before the ‘...