County Monaghan Motor Club

Michael Conlon & Ciaran McPhillips made it three class wins out of three on the 2015 Irish Forestry Rally Championship. The pair finished the Ballyvourney based Moonraker Rally in 6^th overall, 1^st in class 13 and 1^st two wheel drive car. They had also finished top two wheel drive car in the previous rounds in Carrick-on-Suir and Donegal. After a day long battle they finished four seconds clear of Dean Raftery/John Higgins.

Josh Moffett/Jason McKenna led the Monaghan charge initially. The pair were in a strong 2^nd overall after six stages but they dropped out on stage 7, putting a major dent into their Championship hopes. Michael Conlon/Ciaran McPhillips upheld Monaghan honour by moving into 6^th overall. The pair led the two-wheel drive brigade from stage 2 after main rival David Crossan retired from the lead. Michaela McGinn guided Fermanagh’s Damien McGauran to 12^th overall and 2^nd in class 13. Derek Mackarel and Cork’s Daire Hayes finished 32^nd overall and 6^th in class 16. They had been as high as 17^th overall until a long delay on stage six dropped them down the leaderboard. There is a big break until the next round of the Irish Forestry Rally Championship, which will be the Cork Forestry Rally at the end of August.

Monaghan Stages Rally Launched

The 2015 Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Stages Rally is less than two weeks away and excitement is building towards the biggest annual sporting event in Co. Monaghan. Brendan Flynn returns as COC after a successful 2014 event. This year the event is a counting round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship as well as a round of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship. The event is expected to attract a full entry with strong support from both championships.

Regarded as one of the biggest annual sporting events in the county, this year’s event is bigger and better than ever with a truly magnificent entry list of WRC specification cars, group N entries along with a host of powerful two wheel drive cars including some of the best drivers in the country. Many months of preparation have gone into this event, which is estimated to be worth in the region of 5 million euro to the local economy with large crowds expected throughout Monaghan town and the mid-Monaghan region over the course of the weekend.

The Rally Launch took place last week in the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan town which will also host the event on Sunday April 26^th. This is the 17^th successive year that the event is backed by Colm & Audrey Herron and their enthusiastic staff. The event will comprise of three stages repeated three times with service in Monaghan town after each loop. The podium celebration will take place at 5.20pm at the Hillgrove Hotel where the 2015 Monaghan Stages Rally winners will be crowned!

Upcoming events:

April 19^th Circuit of Kerry Rally

April 26^th Monaghan Stages Rally

May 2^nd-3^rd Killarney Rally of the Lakes

May 10^th Carlow Stages Rally

May 24^th Cavan Stages Rally