County Monaghan Motor Club

Sam Moffett was the leading Monaghan finisher on last weekend’s Galway International Rally which was round 1 of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. The 9 stage event attracted a small entry but there was no lack of quality at the top.

Sam & co-driver, James Fulton, finished a fine 2^nd overall on their first event in a Hyundai R5.

The pair finished 21 seconds behind event winner Alastair Fisher/Gordon Noble in a VW Polo. 3^rd overall went to Donagh Kelly & Ballinode’s Conor Foley in another VW Polo. The pair were a scant 1.7 seconds behind Moffett.

Over the opening loop of stages Fisher/Noble built an impressive lead. Behind them, there was an intense battle for 2^nd place with 14 seconds covering five crews. Leading the charge was Kelly/Foley while Josh Moffett/Keith Moriarty lost time on Stage 3 in their Hyundai. On the second loop, Fisher maintained his lead at 22 seconds with Sam Moffett moving into 2^nd place 0.8 seconds ahead of Kelly/Foley. Josh Moffett/Keith Moriarty held 5^th with Stephen Wright/Liam Moynihan in 6^th place.

Kelly/Foley and Moffett/Fulton swapped place again on Stage 7 before a determined run from Moffett/Fulton on the final Black Road stage saw him take two seconds off Kelly/Foley to clinch 2^nd place. The overall results are still provisional due to a post event scrutiny issue for Moffett/Fulton. Moffett/Moriarty finished a subdued 5^th behind Welshman Merion Evans. Stephen Wright/Liam Moynihan brought their Fiesta R5 to a solid 6^th overall. Martin Connolly guided William Mavitty to 10^th overall in their Lancer while Eamon Kelly/Conor Mohan took the class RC2 win and 12^th overall.

In the National Rally, Aisling McArdle guided Des Lyons to 13^th overall and a class win. The Irish Tarmac Championship continues with the West Cork Rally in March.

Galway International Rally Provisional Results:

1^st Alaister Fisher/Gordon Noble (Volkswagen Polo R5) 1.00.34.6

2^nd Sam Moffett/James Fulton (Hyundai I20 R5) 1.00.55.7

3^rd Donagh Kelly/Conor Foley (Volkswagen Polo R5) 1.00.57.4

4^th Meirion Evans/Jonathan Jacob (Volkswagen Polo R5) 1.01.08.6

5^th Josh Moffett/Keith Moriarty (Hyundai I20 R5) 1.01.28.8

6^th Stephen Wright/Liam Moynihan (Ford Fiesta R5) 1.02.29.0

7^th Cathan McCourt/Barry McNulty (Ford Fiesta R5) 1.02.50.8

8^th Declan McCrory/Stephen O’Hanlon (Ford Fiesta R5) 1.05.02.9

9^th Paul Barrett/Kevin Reilly (Ford Fiesta R5) 1.05.42.4

10^th William Mavitty/Martin Connolly (Mitsubishi Evo9) 1.06.06.0