After just six months in Australia and racing in only his third triathlon Keane used all his Irish luck, and a lot of skill, to come from behind and win the club distance event at the 15th annual Maitland Mercury Maitland Triathlon.

Keane was sixth out of the water in the swim, which he described as a shocker, but the 28-year-old made up ground on the bike with the fastest recorded split time.

But the difference was all in the run. Keane left the final transition a minute behind last year’s winner Boyd Conrick, but after quickly motoring the Redhead triathlete down, the lad from County Cork powered across the finish line one minute and 17 seconds clear.

Sydney-based Keane completed the 8km run leg in a time of 27.31, two-and-a-half minutes faster than his nearest rival.

He averaged three-and-a-half minutes for each kilometre.

This outstanding display was helped by Keane’s cross-country background, which has included medals at European Championships.

Keane has also cycled professionally in Belgium.

“Now I just put them all together,” Keane said.

So, despite the lack of triathlon experience, Keane still knows what it’s like to train for sport at the top level.

He also knows what it is like to win, which is the only thing he has done since racing in triathlons.

“I have a 100 per cent record,” Keane said.

He has won at the Australian Teams Championships in Penrith and at a Melbourne race in February.

Now he wants to keep on winning.

“It puts pressure on me to perform and to get results,” he said.

It was a disappointing result for defending champion Conrick, who finished in second place.

Conrick said he did not have the power in his legs at yesterday’s event after completing longer distances during the winter.

Aberglassyn’s Gareth Bannon finished in third place and the 21-year-old was the best of the Maitland competitors.