Dubliner Paul Healion recorded his biggest victory yet in yesterday's inaugural National Criterium championships in Midleton, Cork. The promising 21-year-old broke his collarbone earlier this season but a string of successes in recent weeks hinted at a return to form which was fully proven by yesterday's display.

Healion, part of a 13-man group which broke clear early on in the high-speed street-circuit race, forged ahead alone to establish a 30-second lead by the half-way point.

Behind, Linda McCartney professional Ciaran Power, who is starting to recover after the fatigue of competing in the Tour of Italy last month, and Listowel rider Eugene Moriarty set off in pursuit of the leader with 12 laps remaining. Power was fuelled by a desire for a good performance on home soil, Moriarty by his recent disappointment of losing out on the second Olympic slot in the Elite men's road race but neither could come to terms with an impressive Healion, who crossed the line to take the national title. Fifteen seconds later Moriarty outsprinted Power to take silver. Healion is expected to be part of a strong Irish team to contest next month's under-23 European championships in Poland.