Niall Maguire & Enda Sherry were once again the top Monaghan crew on last weekend’s Sligo Stages Rally. The event was round six of the National Rally Championship and round four of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship. After nine fast and flowing stages including Glencar and Lough Gill, the Ballinode crew secured 3rd overall behind Declan Boyle and Donagh Kelly. The result leaves Maguire & Sherry in a very comfortable 2nd in the championship behind Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan who secured the title in Sligo.
Sam Moffett/James O’Reilly led the Monaghan crews over the opening stages and held a solid 3rd overall after six stages. Their event came to an end after problems on stage seven which promoted Maguire/Sherry into that position. Andrew Grennan took a break from his WRC duties with Daniel McKenna to take 14th overall and 5th in class alongside Leitrim man Enda McLaughlin. Raymond Conlon & Mark Sheridan finished 16th overall and 6th in class 13. Michael Carbin/Emmet McCooey brought their Lancer home 19th overall and 3rd in class 20. Shane Maguire/Mac Kierans made steady progress during the day to take 23rd overall and 6th in class 4. Justin Smyth/James McEneaney had a great run to 24th overall and 1st in class 9. Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden took yet another win in class 11R and 29th overall. Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes took 49th overall and 1st in class 3. Sean McCaul/Frank Clerkin survived a delay on the first stage to take 71st overall and 11th in class 11R. Declan Connolly/Alison Hughes came home 75th overall and 7th in class 9.
David Moffett/Fintan Sherry had been holding 2nd in class 13 until their Toyota Starlet went off the road at a slippy square right on stage five. Brian Armstrong/Mark Tierney retired on the opening stage as did Barry Treanor/Gregory McQuillan. Steven Corey/Vinnie Boyd’s rally came to an end on stage five. Martin Swinburne/Gretchen Fegan were contesting the Junior Rally but retired after an off on stage one.
Both the Border and National Rally Championships are on hiatus until the end of August and the Galway Summer Rally.
County Monaghan Motor Club 