County Monaghan Motor Club

Scotshouse driver Daniel McKenna, partnered as usual by Andrew Grennan from Annaghmakerrig continued their impressive recent form with overall victory on the Castle Hellfire Stages Rally based in Oldcastle on Sunday last. At the completion of the rally’s sixth and final stage, this exciting young  Monaghan crew were 1 minute and 40 seconds clear of local crew Alan Sheridan/Gerard Conlon, both crews competing in Mk2 Escorts. 3^rd place overall went to the Subaru Impreza driven by Stephen Cullen with navigator Seamus O’Grady.

Returning to the Scanbitz Escort after their outing in a Mitsubishi Lancer on the Ulster Rally, Daniel & Andrew set the pace from the word go, pulling 12 seconds out of the opposition on the opening stage. Trevor Mulligan/Paul Clarke and Michael Curran/Stephen Curran weren’t too far away but just couldn’t get on terms with the leaders. Daniel & Andrew dominated the event setting fastest time on each of the six stages to finish with a huge margin over their nearest rivals.

Mulligan/Clarke, who had held 2^nd for most of the day retired late on promoting Alan Sheridan/Gerard Conlon into 2^nd place. Group N winners, Stephen Cullen/Seamus O’Grady completed the top three finishers. Gordon Rogers/Philip McEntee just lost on 3^rd place on a tie-break, but secured victory in class 13. James Cassidy/John Norris finished 5^th overall and took 1^st in class 12. Other Monaghan finishers were Andrew Lang/Niall Monaghan in 39^th overall and 1^st in class 9. Retirements included: Donal Crossan/Damien McCabe, Martin Tynan/Ciaran Tynan and Francie McKenna/Sean Craig.