Author: monaghanmotorclub

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 3^rd overall behind Declan Boyle and Donagh Kelly. The result leaves Maguire & Sherry in a very comfortable 2^nd 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 3^rd 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 14^th overall and 5^th in class alongside Leitrim man Enda McLaughlin. Raymond Conlon & Mark Sheridan finished 16^th overall and 6^th in class 13. Michael Carbin/Emmet McCooey brought their Lancer home 19^th overall and 3^rd in class 20. Shane Maguire/Mac Kierans made steady progress during the day to take 23^rd overall and 6^th in class 4. Justin Smyth/James McEneaney had a great run to 24^th overall and 1^st in class 9. Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden took yet another win in class 11R and 29^th overall. Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes took 49^th overall and 1^st in class 3. Sean McCaul/Frank Clerkin survived a delay on the first stage to take 71^st overall and 11^th in class 11R. Declan Connolly/Alison Hughes came home 75^th overall and 7^th in class 9.

David Moffett/Fintan Sherry had been holding 2^nd 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.

Jim McKenna & Thomas Treanor led the Monaghan crews home on last weekend’s ALMC Stages Rally.The event which was based out of the town of Trim in County Meath attracted just under 100 crews. After nine stages, McKennna & Treanor finished a fine 6^th overall and 1^st in class 14. Jack Maguire & Andy Hayes took 12^th overall and 3^rd in class 14. Barry McKenna & Mac Kierans finished 15^th overall and 2^nd in class 13. Padraig Connolly & Padraig Corrigan retired on stage five.

Monaghan Motor Club would like to express our wish for a speedy recovery to those injured in an accident during the event last Sunday.

Sligo Stages Rally

Round 6 of the Triton National Rally Championship takes place this weekend with the Sligo Stages Rally. The event is also Round 4 of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship and has attracted a capacity entry. The event will compromise of three stages repeated three times with HQ once again the Sligo Park Hotel.

Sam Moffett is the top Monaghan seed at No.3 with Niall Maguire/Enda Sherry starting at No.4. David Moffett & Fintan Sherry are at No.15, Shane Maguire/Mac Kierans are at No 18 and Raymond Conlon/Mark Sheridan start at No.25. Mark Tierney is sitting with Brian Armstrong at 29 and Michael Carbin/Emmet McCooey are at No. 32. Andrew Grennan is sitting with Enda McLaughlin at 46. Seamus Connolly/Gary McCrudden are at No.51 in their Corolla with class rivals Barry Treanor/Gregory McQuillan right behind at 52. Steven Corey/Vinnie Boyd, Pakie Duffy/Evin Hughes, Declan Connolly/Alison Hughes are at 63. 79 and 101 respectively. Sean McCaul/Frank Clerkin are at No.123. Martin Swinburne/Gretchen Fegan are at No.4 in the Junior class. Full report next week.

Upcoming fixtures:

July 25^th Cookstown Stages Rally

July 26^th Imokilly Mini Stages Rally

August 8^th Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally

Three Monaghan men contested the Ypres Rally in Belgium last weekend, a counting round of the European Rally Championship. Josh Moffett & John Rowan and Sam Moffett & Karl Atkinson competed in Ford Fiesta’s while James O’Reilly was navigating for Martin McCormack in a Skoda Fabia S2000. McCormack/O’Reilly would be the only crew to finish coming home an excellent 8th overall.

The opening day was contested over seven stages on Friday. Josh Moffett/John Rowan led the early Monaghan charge and would hold 9th place after four stages but then lost a minute with a puncture and would be drop to 18th overnight. Martin McCormack/James O’Reilly finished the day in 8th place. Sam Moffett & Karl Atkinson held 15th place overnight despite being on the wrong tires for the second loop.

A further ten stages were contested on Saturday. Josh Moffett & John Rowan and Martin McCormack/James O’Reilly were setting similar stages with Sam Moffett & Karl Atkinson not too far adrift. Both Moffett brothers reported some small concerns with Sam having an overshoot and Josh complaining of brake fade. Sam would retire on stage 11 and more drama would occur on stage 15 with Martin McCormack/James O’Reilly losing several minutes after getting stuck in a ditch.

The final drama occurred on the final stage as Josh Moffett & John Rowan crashed out of 8th place after cutting a corner too tight which launched the car into a roll. Luckily, neither occupant was seriously injured. This left McCormack/O’Reilly to take 8th place after going 2nd fastest overall on the final stage. Overall honours went to Belgian ace Freddy Loix who won the event for the tenth time.

Carrick-on-Suir Ravens Rock Rally

A number of Monaghan crews made their way to Waterford to contest Round 5 of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship. Niall Maguire & Enda Sherry were debuting their recently acquired ex Declan Boyle Subaru WRC. This event was to be a learning curve for this crew in the new car.

Peader Hurson & Damien Connolly were expected to challenge for honours but a fuel leak put them out before the opening stage. Maguire & Sherry put in a steady drive to finish 5th overall and cement their 2nd place in the championship. Championship leader Donagh Kelly & Kevin Flanagan made it five maximum scores in a row with yet another victory to move closer to securing the overall title. Michael Conlon & Ciaran McPhillips brought their Mk2 Escort home 13th overall and 3rd in class 13. Pauric Duffy & John Higgins finished 19th overall and 2nd in class 5. Seamus Connolly & Gary McCrudden were back at the wheel of their Toyota Corolla and took 2nd in class 11R and 34th overall. Barry McKenna & Declan Tynan retired at first service after a long delay on stage two.

The next round of the Triton National Rally Championship is the Sligo Stages Rally in two weeks time.

ALMC Stages Rally

This weekend ALMC are running their stages rally out of Trim, County Meath. Jack Maguire, Barry McKenna/Mac Kierans and Padraig Connolly/Padraig Corrigan are entered to compete. Monaghan also need to provide marshals for this event and those able to help are asked to contact Kerry Stevenson.

Upcoming events:
July 12th Sligo Stages Rally
July 25th Cookstown Stages Rally
July 26th Imokilly Mini Stages Rally

Richard Moffett & Martin Connolly were the stand out Monaghan performers on last weekend’s Donegal International Rally. The Ballinode men took class 13 honours and 7^th overall in the National Rally. This was a great performance from this crew as Richard hasn’t competed on a rally since last October. In the International Rally, Conor Foley guided Martin Doherty to 8^th overall and Group N honours in their Mitsubishi Lancer. Pauric Duffy & John Higgins finished just behind in a fine 9^th overall in their Ford Fiesta R5. They also finished 2^nd in class 5.

Stephen Thornton guided Tyrone’s Vivian Hamaill to 9^th overall in the National Rally and 4^th in class 14. They recovered from 83^rd place at one point on Friday after suffering gear linkage problems. Anthony Hand/Peter Derry put in a storming drive to take 14^th overall and 1^st in class 11R. They were involved in a terrifice battle with local man Patrick Boyle and the Monaghan men came through to take the class by just over 30 seconds. David Moffett/James McCarville finished 18^th overall and 6^th in class 13. The pair put in a steady drive as David got back into the swing of things after his Cavan off. Raymond Conlon & Adrian Treanor finished 27^th overall and 8^th in class 13 in their Toyota Corolla. They could have finished higher but for a 2 min 30 seconds road penalty from Friday.

Michael Carbin & Emmet McCooey had a difficult event. They held 19^th overall after Friday but dropped several minutes on the opening Saturday stage before retiring on stage 10. They rejoined the Rally under Rally 2 and set some good times on Sunday enrotue to 53^rd overall and 5^th in class.

Emmet Sherry guided Tommy O’Connell to 4^th in the Historic Rally while Martin Swinburne/Gretchen Fegan took 4^th overall in the Junior Rally.

Stephen Wright/Mickie Galvin had been leading the Monaghan crews until mechanical problems dropped them out on Saturday afternoon. They rejoined on Sunday only to retire on the final stage. Gary McPhillips/Paul Sheridan’s bid for three National wins in a row came to end after an accident on stage 7, thankfully with no injury to either occupant. John McQuaid/Stephen Hagan had been up to 9^th overall in the National Rally until their retirmenet on stage 17. Brendan McDaid/Mac Kierans had climbed to 14^th place until their stage 16 retirement. Gerard McQuaid/Gary Quinlan suffered a heart-breaking final stage retirement whilst holding 13^th in the National Rally. Brendan McAree & JP McAree retired from the Historic Rally on stage 19.

Raven’s Rock Rally

The Triton Showers National Rally Championship resumes with the Waterford based Raven’s Rock Rally. Niall Maguire & Enda Sherry will be hoping to keep the pressure on championship leaders, Donagh Kelly & Kevin Flanagan. Damien Connolly is again teaming up with Peader Hurson and they will be hoping to repeat their Cavan Rally win. Michael Conlon & Ciaran McPhillips are amongst the leading two-wheel drive crews in their Mk2 Escort. Shane Maguire/Mac Kierans are seeded at No.24 in their Lancer and will be gunning for glory in Group N. Pauric Duffy is also competing and is seeded at No.28 in his Fiesta R5. David Moffett & Fintan Sherry continue their National campaign and start at No.31. Barry McKenna & Declan Tynan are seeded back at 69 in their Escort.

Upcoming events:

July 5^th ALMC Stages Rally

July 12^th Sligo Stages Rally

July 25^th Cookstown Stages Rally

The Joule Donegal International Rally takes place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday and a strong contingent of Monaghan crews are making the trip north to contest the event. Stephen Wright/Mickie Galvin head the Monaghan crews. They are the top seeded class 5 crew at No.8 and will be favourites to take the class on this event. Conor Foley is in line to navigate for local man Martin Doherty and they head the Group N entries at No.9. Gary McPhillips/Paul Sheridan will be going for a three in a row in the National Rally after their successes in 2013 and 2014. Hot on their heels is Daniel McKenna who is set to take the wheel of the Toyota AE86 owned by Brendan Kelly. Daniel and Gary have had mighty battles over the years but it remains to be seen how Daniel adapts to the new car.

Arthur Kierans is the hot seat for Phil Collins at No.23. Collins is another former winner of the National Rally. Pauric Duffy/Kevin Glynn are making the trip from Australia to compete and start at No.36. Michael Carbin/Emmet McCooey are to start at No.41 in their Evo4. Richard Moffett & Martin Connolly are at No.47 in their Starlet and will hope to retain the class 13 trophy they won last year. Raymond Conlon/Adrian Treanor start at 48 with John McQuaid/Stephan Hagan at 50. James McCarville is sitting with Enda McNulty at 51 while Mac Kierans is navigating for Brendan McDaid at 60. David Moffett/Fintan Sherry are seeded back at 65 but will be keeping a close eye on big brother Richard’s times over the weekend! Gerard McQuaid/Gary Quinlan will also be pushing hard in class 13 and hope to improve on their No.81 seeding. Anthony Hand/Peter Deery start at 84 and will be gunning for glory in class 11R.

Emmet Sherry is sitting with Thomas O’Connell in the Historic class which contest 10 stages over the weekend. Brendan McAree & JP McAree are also entered in this class. Finally, Gary McKenna & Nicola McKenna are competing in the Junior Rally which will contest Sunday’s six stages.

Kierans Guides McGeehan Through Dust in Lithuania

Arthur Kierans made the long trip to Lithuania to contest the Samsonas Rally Utena. The two day event was contested over 11 gravel stages and Arthur and driver Derek McGeehan finished a respectable 8^th overall.

Upcoming Events:

June 30^th Carrick-on-Suir Ravens Rock Rally

July 5^th ALMC Stages Rally

July 12^th Sligo Stages Rally