Monaghan Motor Club News
The final round of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship took place last weekend.
Donegal Motor Club hosted this final round, their Harvest Stages Rally 2026 based out of the An Grianán Hotel, Burt in the north east of the county.
Recently announced as the Trailer Parts & Spares Irish forest rally champion, Triton Showers national rally champion and the NAPA Auto Parts Irish tarmac rally champion, Josh Moffett gave his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 to older brother Sam for the days nine special-stages.
Special-Stage (SS) 1,4,7 was based around Mouldy Hill south of Buncrana. SS 2,5,8 was located around the An Grianán Ailigh, and the last three stages were located on Dooish Hill between Newtown and Manorcunningham.
Sam with Josh’s Triton Showers championship navigator Keith Moriarty onboard completed the days rallying in 5th place overall and took 2nd in class 5.
Daniel McKenna/Andrew Grennan fresh off their Cork 20 international win, once again took the modified win by finishing 7th overall and 1st in class 14.
There was a County Monaghan Motor Club 1,2,3 on the modified podium on this event as Gary McPhillips/Calum Maguire finished 2nd and Pierce O’Callaghan guided Co. Meath man Jonathan Pringle to 3rd.
James McCarville debuted his stunning livered Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 on tarmac at the event.
James and Arthur Kierans finished in 11th place overall.
Dessie Keenan/Jason McKenna finished just behind them in 12th overall and 4th in class 14.
Johno Doogan/Paul Lennon took their Ford Escort MkII to 15th overall.
Killian McArdle guided Michael Cahill to 26th overall.
Michael Conlon rued the decision to not fit blinds to the windscreen of his escort to shield out the dazzling winter sun which had emerged during SS8 and 9. The ultimate business man that he is, Michael knew to keep the car on the road at all costs to prevent drawing curtains on his day’s rallying. Michael and his navigator Domhnall Lennon finished 52nd overall and took the win in class 12.
Justin Smyth/Ciaran McGorman finished 63rd overall and took 2nd in class 12. The two men are currently petitioning ITV to relaunch ‘You’ve been Framed’ as they inadvertently created the funniest in-car camera footage ever during the opening stage of the event. They have said that the £250 cash prize would go a long way in the purchase of new underwear for each of them.
Cathal Sheridan/Barry McArdle finished 71st overall and took a comfortable win in class 10.
Martin McPhillips/Peter Farrell took their Toyota Corolla Twin-cam to 76th overall and 4th in class 11R.
Adam Langan navigating for Ryan Caldwell recovered from a set back on SS1 to finish 99th overall and 7th in class.
Paul McPhillips navigating for Kyle McDaid unfortunately retired after SS4.
Birr endurance trial took place on Sunday last.
Evin Hughes guided Karl O’Donoghue to the overall win in their Toyota Starlet.
The annual Co. Monaghan Motor Club CLG awards night is fast approaching. The awards night will take place in the Four Seasons Hotel Monaghan on Sunday night October 25th. Tickets will go on sale soon.
