Michael Dunlop is set to make his first appearance at an Irish National road race meeting in the south this year after being confirmed for the 30th anniversary meeting at Killalane.

The Loughshinny Club’s meeting in North County Dublin traditionally brings the curtain down on the season and Dunlop will round out the year on his MD Racing BMW Superstock and Honda Supersport machines this weekend.

Confirmation of his appearance at Killalane is a huge shot in the arm for the organisers with high-profile names including Tyco Suzuki’s William Dunlop and Braddan competitor Dan Kneen absent from the event.

A lack of machinery prevented Dunlop from competing this weekend with his Tyco Suzuki team’s resources fully implemented at the MCE British Superbike meeting at Donington Park.

Kneen, meanwhile, is ruled out through injury following his crash at the Metzeler Ulster Grand Prix last month, which put a huge dampener on the Cookstown/B.E. Racing rider’s day after he had clinched his first international roads success in a brilliant Superstock shootout with Dean Harrison.

But 11-time Isle of Man TT winner Dunlop has added plenty of gloss to the last National road race of 2014 and the 25-year-old will take all the beating.

He bagged a treble last year, taking wins in the Open and Grand Final Superbike races plus victory in the Senior Classic race, but was denied a four-timer by his brother William, who narrowly prevailed in the Supersport race by 0.081 seconds.

Dunlop repeated his incredible 2013 feat by claiming another four-timer at the TT in June, including wins in the Superbike and Senior races on the factory-backed BMW Motorrad S1000RR, plus victories in the Superstock and Supersport classes.

He began the international season on a high at the Vauxhall North West 200 in May, taking the honours in the Superstock and feature Superbike races for the German manufacturer.

However, he was out of luck at the Ulster Grand Prix, where Bruce Anstey doubled up in the Supersport and Superbike events, and broke down three times in the 350cc, 500cc and Formula 1 races at the Classic TT.

Dunlop’s last win came in the ‘Race of Legends’ at Armoy at the end of July, but the Ballymoney man will be a red-hot favourite at the anniversary meeting at Killalane to add to his tally.

The line-up also includes Mullingar’s Derek McGee, Dublin man Derek Sheils, Wilson Craig Honda rider Jamie Hamilton, Michael Sweeney, Connor Behan, Seamus Elliott and Andy Farrell.

Practice takes place on Saturday from 1pm-7pm with roads closing on Sunday for racing at 9am sharp.

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