Author: monaghanmotorclub

Arthur Kierans guided David Kelly to a fantastic 3^rd place overall (OA) finish, on the ‘Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally Ireland’ last weekend.

The Donegal/Monaghan pair, finished the event’s twenty Special Stage’s, 7.1s better off than the Monaghan/Wexford pair of Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes.

Cathan McCourt/Barry McNulty took their Škoda Fabia R5 home in 12^th place OA.

Brendan Cumiskey/Martin Connolly took their VW Polo GTI R5 home in 17^th.

Michael Carbin/Dean O’Sullivan had a fantastic event, and took their Ford Escort MKII home in 20^th place OA.

Dessie Keenan/Jason McKenna finished 23^rd, driving a similar Ford Escort MKII.

Killian McArdle navigated Joseph Kelly to 33^rd OA and 2^nd in Class RC4.

Ryan Farrell navigated Johnnie Mulholland to 35^th and 1^st in Class RC3.

Anthony Hand/David McCrudden finished 48^th and 1^st in Class 11R. Justin Smyth/Ciaran McGorman finished 53^rd and 1^st in Class 12. Peter Farrell navigated Bernard McGinley to 74^th OA and 6^th in Class 11R.

Gerard McGivney/Donal Crossan finished 95^th in their Ford Escort MKII.

Domhnall Lennon guided Brian Bolger to 110^th and 6^th in Class 24, after restarting their event under Super-rally rules.

Paul Barrett/Darragh Kelly originally retired on SS3 with a damaged wheel hub. They had been in 12th place at that time. They did get the wheel hub repaired and rejoined the event, but unfortunately, they would retire for good after SS13 with a gearbox issue.

Gary McPhillips/Paul Sheridan retired after SS4, following a mechanical issue they picked up on that stage.

Kaine Treanor, navigating for Chris O’Callaghan, retired on SS3 following an ‘OFF’.

The ‘International’ event was won by Callum Devine/Noel O’Sullivan Jnr, for a third consecutive time, on board a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. Well, third consecutive time for the lads, and second consecutive time for their Škoda. Their inaugural Donegal International win came, driving a VW Polo GTI R5. The ‘National’ event was won by the Co. Cavan/Cork pair of Aaron McIntyre/Derry Long. McIntyre/Long were competing in a Class 14 Toyota Starlet, serviced by none other than Stonebridge man Derek Mackarel.

County Monaghan Motor Club CLG, are hosting their annual ‘Charity Static Car Show and Shine’ this Sunday, June 29th. The event is taking place in the Long Stay Carpark at Monaghan Town Shopping Centre.

Car entries are €20. General admission will be by donation at the gate. All donations are going towards, Crocus Monaghan Branch and SOSAD Ireland.

Oisín Sherlock

Killian McArdle was competing in the latest event, of the 2025 European Rally Championship (ERC), last weekend. This latest event was the ORLEN OIL 81. Rally Poland. Killian and his driver, Casey Jay Coleman, finished the event in 24^th place overall. They also finished 6^th in Class RC3 and 4^th in the M-Sport Rally3 Trophy. There was more Irish interest in the event. Jon Armstrong/Shane Byrne, driving for M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, finished 3^rd overall, narrowly missing out on finishing in 2^nd place by 9.5 seconds. Annoyingly for them, they had incurred a 10s penalty for ‘Chicane Destruction’, following a ‘moment’ on Special Stage 12. Aoife Raferty/Hannah Mc Killop finished 31^st overall, and 4^th in the Junior ERC (JERC). Keelan Grogan/Ayrton Sherlock finished 36^th overall, and 8^th in the JERC. Unfortunately for Craig Rahill/Conor Smyth, a driveshaft broke on their Peugeot 208 Rally4, on SS10. This broken driveshaft, forced their early retirement. They had been in 4^th place in the JERC at that point.

The Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, resumes this coming weekend with the Wilton Recycling, Donegal International Rally Ireland. There will be a large Monaghan interest, as there is a plethora of Co. Monaghan Motor Club CLG members, spread throughout the 212 car (including Historic & Junior), entry list.

Macartan ‘Mac’ Kierans was competing out in Australia recently. Mac and his Irish driver, Richie Dalton, took part in the ‘Bega Vally Rally 2025’. Regrettably, they had to retire on SS4, when their Toyota GR Yaris AP4, developed mechanical issues.

Co. Monaghan Motor Club CLG, have just launched a new Club App. The App will be the go-to location for all your motor club information. To download the App, just search ‘Monaghan Motor Club’ on your ‘Android’ or Apple’ device’s, App store. Please note, the App is continuously being updated, as it is in its early days yet.

County Monaghan Motor Club CLG, are hosting their annual ‘Charity Static Car Show and Shine’ on Sunday, June 29th. The event is taking place in the Long Stay Carpark at Monaghan Town Shopping Centre. Car entries are €20. General admission will be by donation at the gate. All donations are going towards, Crocus Monaghan Branch and SOSAD Ireland.

Oisín Sherlock

There were a brace of ‘Moffett Motorsport’ cars, on the podium of the Acesigns Signmakers Laois Heartlands Rally 2025, last weekend.

David Moffett and Martin Connolly finished the six stage, ‘Mini-Stage’ event in 2^nd place overall. David and Martin finished the event, 4.6s in arrears of the overall victors, Colin and Kieran O’Donoghue.

David’s brother Richard, navigated by Darragh Kelly, finished in 3^rd place, driving a similar Toyota Starlet. Michael Carbin and Dean O’Sullivan, just missed out on a podium finish, taking 4^th overall, and 1^st in Class 14.

Paul Kelly navigated Paul Purtill to 8^th overall and 1^st in Class 13. Ryan Farrell, navigating for Stephen Faughnan, finished just 2.4s in arrears, coming home in 9^th overall and 2^nd in Class 13. Killian McArdle guided Michael Cahill, to 16^th overall in their MKII Ford Escort. Daniel McConnon navigating for Thomas Lynch, finished 29^th overall and 6^th in Class 13. Martin McPhillips/Peter Farrell finished 40^th overall and 1^st in Class 11R. Unfortunately, Johno Doogan/Paul Lennon retired after Special Stage 2 and Domhnall Lennon, navigating for John Lynch, retired on Special Stage 4.

County Monaghan Motor Club CLG, are hosting their annual ‘Charity Static Car Show and Shine’ on Sunday, June 29th. The event is taking place in the Long Stay Carpark at Monaghan Town Shopping Centre. Car entries are €20. General admission will be by donation at the gate. All donations are going towards, Crocus Monaghan Branch and SOSAD Ireland.

Oisín Sherlock.

Oisín Sherlock was back in Spain last week, taking part in Rallye Festival Hoznayo. He was once again navigating for Andrew McCourt, in his Ford Escort MkII. The event got underway on Thursday, with multiple runs of a 6.6km ‘Shakedown’ Stage, followed by a ceremonial start that night.

Three stages were on the cards on Friday, followed by a further seven stages on Saturday. The ten stage, festival event was untimed as it is not classified as a competition – just like ‘Andalusía Festival Legend’ event, in which they completed a fortnight earlier, it was a ‘show event only’, so its main purpose was to bring in huge crowds for to witness cars of yesteryear, rally around and do flamboyant manoeuvres. This time the event was based around the village of Hoznayo in northern Spain. The most memorable part of the event for Oisín, was the ‘human corridor’ from the end of the final stage to the Finish Ramp, back in the Hoznayo Service Park. It consisted of thousands of fans lining the roads, waving flags, dancing around, cheering and waving lit flares all under the cover of darkness.

Evin Hughes guided Karl O’Donoghue to 2nd overall on last weekend’s Skibbereen and District Car Club Endurance Trial. The pair narrowly missed out on the overall win by just two seconds. Arguably, they could have had a commanding victory, as they incurred a minute penalty for an error on the opening selective of the day. Unfortunately, Sean and Caolain McCaffrey retired at Selective 9, while sitting 1st in Class A2N. Their day had gotten off to the ideal start, as on the opening selective, they set the fourth fastest time overall. Unfortunately for them, their Nissan Micra grew weary on the following road section. They managed to get the issue sorted, and were able to complete Selective 2 and onward. However more mechanical gremlins arose later. This time the gremlins were unable to be repaired quickly, so this forced them to retire at Selective 9.

The Sligo Pallets Forest Rally Championship continued with Mayo Motor Clubs, Forest Rally on Saturday. Derek Mackarel/Eamonn Creedon finished the six-stage event in 5th place overall, and 2nd in Class 5. Steven Corey/Michelle Horan finished 24th OA and 2nd in Class 14. Killian McArdle navigating for Keelan Grogan retired after SS2. Tommy Moffett/Domhnall Lennon retired after SS4.

County Monaghan Motor Club are hosting their annual ‘Charity Static Car Show and Shine’ on Sunday, June 29th. The event is taking place in the Long Stay Carpark at Monaghan Town Shopping Centre. Car entries are €20. General admission will be by donation at the gate. The donations are going towards Crocus Monaghan Branch and SOSAD Ireland.

Oisín Sherlock.

Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes were victorious on the Hotel Kilmore Cavan Stages Rally, held on Sunday last.

The reigning Triton Showers National Rally Champion had an 18.2s advantage over older brother Sam, navigated by Shane Buckley.  Kevin Eves/Chris Melly finished in 3rd place, a further 3.7s adrift.

Paul Barrett/Darragh Kelly finished in 8th place and 4th in Class 5. David Moffett/Conor Mohan finished 18th overall and 3rd in Class 14. David’s brother Richard, navigated by Ger Conway finished 22nd and 4th in Class 14.

Gary McPhillips/Paul Sheridan finished right behind them in 23rd place overall.

Johno Doogan/Paul Lennon finished in 25th place.

Raymond Conlon/Gavin Doherty finished 33rd overall.

Ryan Farrell guided Stephen Faughnan to 35th overall.

Damien Connolly navigated Oran England to 36th overall and 1st in Class 2.

Mickey Conlon/Adam Langan finished 39th and 1st in Class 12.

Justin Smyth/Ciaran McGorman finished 41st and 2nd in Class 2. Tommy Moffett/Paul McPhillips finished 44th overall and 3rd in Class 2.

Daniel McConnon guided Gavin McGivney to 47th place.

Domhnall Lennon navigated Vincent Collins to 50th and 3rd in Class 12.

Martin McPhillips/Paul Kelly finished 51st and 2nd in Class 11R.

Brian Cumiskey/Declan Campbell finished 75th overall and 1st in Class 15.

Squealing Pig Border Navigation champions, Pakie/Duffy/Evin Hughes finished 85th overall and 3rd in Class 3.

Peter and Eoghán Farrell finished 92nd and 2nd in Class 10. 

Cathan McCourt/Barry McNulty retired after SS4.

Michael Carbin/Dean O’Sullivan retired after SS6, while in 27th overall.

Brian Hoy navigating for Gary Jennings, retired on SS4. Killian McArdle navigating for Michael Cahill, retired after SS6 while 26th overall. James McCarville/Arthur Kierans retired after SS1. John McQuaid/Thomas Treanor retired after SS2.

On Saturday last, Maiden City Motor Club held their Eakin Bros Rally. Arthur Kierans navigated David Kelly to 3rd place overall. Cathan McCourt/Barry McNulty retired after SS7 with an electoral issue.

The Squealing Pig Border Navigation Trial Championship prize-giving was held last week, where Evin Hughes and Pakie Duffy lifted the overall title once again.

Aaron McElroy and Declan Tynan finished 2nd OA and David McCrudden/Martin Tynan were third.

Greg Shinnors/Andrew Mackarel finished 1st in the Expert class, Oisín Sherlock/Derek Mackarel finished 2nd, and Conor Boylan/Shane Dalton finished 3rd.

Ciaran Maguire/Mickey McNelis finished 1st in the Semi-Expert class, and Michael Sheridan/Cathal McGlone finished 2nd.

Darren Lavery/Aaron McGorman finished 1st in the Novice class and Adam Langan finished 2nd Novice navigator. Martin Swinburne finished 3rd Novice driver. Gretchen Swinburne finished 4th Novice navigator. Jack McKenna finished 5th Novice Navigator and Aaron Dixon finished 6th Novice driver.