Daire Feeley receives treatment after crashing towards the end of Stage Three of Friday’s Rás Tailteann. Picture: Lorraine O’Sullivan

Roscommon cyclist Daire Feeley’s dreams of successfully defending his Rás Tailteann title went up in smoke on Friday afternoon after he was involved in a crash just kilometres from the end of the third stage into Castlebar.

Feeley had been ninth in General Classification going into the stage from Ennis to Castlebar, but despite being involved in a few breakaway groups during the stage, his ambition of putting back-to-back Rás titles together was unceremoniously ended by a crash in the main peloton four kilometres from the finish.

The 26-year-old had to be treated by paramedics after he bravely returned to his bike to complete the stage.

It remains to be seen if he’s at the start line for today’s 175.9 kilometres fourth stage between Charlestown and Monaghan, which passes through Tulsk and Strokestown during the early part of the stage.