County Monaghan Motor Club

Monaghan Crews Fair Well on Galway Summer Rally

The highly popular Galway Summer rally was contested at the weekend, based in the West Galway town of Ballinasloe. The event was supported by several mainland UK crews as Hugh Hunter from Wales led the rally from start to finish followed by fellow countryman James Belton both in WRC Subaru’s.  Third overall on the day was Darragh O’Riordan from Cork in the latest spec Fiesta WRC.

            A strong Monaghan contingent was headed by Josh Moffett/John Rowan as the duo continued their great run of form taking the group N lead on the opening stage, a position they held to the end. This result ensures them of the group N title in the Dunlop National Rally Championship. Josh was closely followed by brother and sister pairing of Stephen/Suzanne Wright who claimed a fine 2^nd in GpN and 9^th Overall. Donegal’s Declan Gallagher and Ryan Moore were once again tops in the two wheel drive section in their starlet, closely followed by Cavan’s Jonathan Pringle/Martin Byrne who were 5th overall with Frank Kelly a further 15 seconds adrift in 6th overall. Maurice Moffett/Jason McKenna made a return to the Irish tarmac and had a brilliant run all day to claim the runner up spot in the highly competitive class 14 and 10^th overall in their Toyota Starlet. Liam Bowhan with Damien Connolly on the notes, just edged into 11^th overall by a slender half second, taking third in class. Shane Maguire/ Martin McGarrity claimed 12^th overall and held a strong third in GpN all day, which duly strengthens their Top Part West Coast championship campaign. Raymond Conlon wheeled his trusty twin-cam out and was partnered by Sarah Whelan, they eventually finished fourth in class. David Moffett/Fintan Sherry had a fine run until a stage four puncture dropped them from 2^nd in class to fifth in class, however they battled away to finish 44^th overall and 4^th in class. Aaron Duffy/Keith McConnon finished a creditable 4^th in class and 58^th overall in their little Fiesta.

            Some hard luck stories included Jim McKenna/Thomas Treanor who had held a fine 9^th overall and second in class 14 until driveshaft failure put them out of the event. Also going extremely well was Richard Moffett/Martin Connolly who had held 10^th overall and third in the hotly contested class 13 until their clutch cried enough on stage six. Justin Smyth/Gregory McQuillan had led their class after five stages but unfortunately stage 6 ended their fine run. The next tarmac rally for many of the local crews will be the Clare stages rally on September 22^nd.