Paralympic cycle - Donnacha McCarthy's former coach Dave Tilley planning long trip to Paris

If Cork para-triathlete Donnacha McCarthy makes it to this year's Paralympic Games he will be cheered on in person by someone who is prepared to put in an equally heroic physical effort to get there.

Dave Tilley, the man who was McCarthy’s first guide in the sport, had a surprise for him yesterday when they were reunited at a special Paralympics Ireland event to mark six months to the start of the Games (28 August to 8 September).

"I told Donnacha that if he makes it to Paris I will cycle to see him," revealed Tilley (59) who cycled 1,300km across the Atlas Mountains last year and is currently sporting a sling after breaking his collarbone in the same event recently.

When McCarthy first took up triathlon in 2018 it was Tilley who taught him to swim; a terrifying challenge for a blind athlete.

They formed a special bond and their partnership only ended because Tilley felt he was holding the now 33-year-old back.

"We were at a World Cup in Sarasota, Florida, lying second behind a Japanese pair. Donnacha’s first World Cup win was just a fingertip away but I had no more to give, he was pulling me along.

"I was devastated that I had held him back and told him then he needed a younger guide."

Tilley had better start checking the route from Le Havre to Paris because McCarthy and his guide, Sean Husband from Monaghan, are currently ranked 10th in the world which is just inside the qualifying mark.

But with four months of qualifying races left he’s not willing to leave his Paralympic debut to chance.

"Our first race of the season is a World Cup in Abu Dhabi on 8 March and then we’re on to Tasmania and Australia for the World Series races, which carry the most points," said the data engineer from Drimoleague.

"Our plan is to do as many of