McCann served a six-month ban last year for a doping offence

Belfast cyclist David McCann guaranteed himself a place at the World Championships in Canada next week by winning Saturday's Irish time trial qualification event in north Dublin.

McCann, who claimed a bronze medal in the World B Championship road race in Switzerland during the summer, finished 52 seconds ahead of Irish time trial champion David O'Loughlin in the 40K event.

The Belfastman's performance continues his fine comeback after a six-month drug ban.

He was found to have had excessive levels of Norandrosterone in a urine sample taken during the Tour of Austria in June last year.

McCann insisted he had never taken a banned substance but said he did not have enough money to launch an appeal.

Meanwhile, 2002 World rowing champion Sinead Jennings showed remarkable versatility by beating Ireland's cycling regulars to win the single slot available for the World Championships.

Jennings has only been doing cycling specific training for two weeks after a heavy rowing season but she dominated the time trial at Ballyboughal with Siobhan Jacobs a minute and three seconds back after the 20km.

Donegal woman Jennings will compete against the world's top women's riders in both the time trial and the road race in Canada.