Monaghan Stages Rally

Josh Moffett held off the challenge of his older brother Sam both driving Fiesta WRC’s to win their local event, the Monaghan Rally, Round two of the Border Rally Championships and Round three of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship.

At the finish the pair were separated by a margin of 5.1 seconds.

Throughout the rally they served up a terrific duel along with Triton Showers series leader Donagh Kelly in a Focus WRC, all three held the lead at various stages during the event.

Defending champion Declan Boyle was a non-starter due to transmission problems in his Subaru WRC.

Declan Gallagher in his Toyota Starlet won the Modified section and Martin Doherty  in his Mitsubshi Evo took the honours in Group N.

Top Mayo result was from Belmullet’s Shane Barry who was navigating Donegal’s Pauric McGee in a Honda Civic, the pair took top place in Class 1. Achill’s Brian Lavelle on only his second tarmac event showed great form to claim third place in Class 1. The former Mayo young driver champion had Shane Byrne on the notes.

Pauric Duffy who had John Higgins alongside got off to a flyer on stage one but getting caught out and ending up beached on a ditch midway through stage two put an end to their adventures, with no damage to the Fiesta R5 the pair rejoined under Rally two and finished fifth in Class 20. Pauric now turns his attention to Kerry next weekend for the Rally of the Lakes before he returns back to work in Australlia.

Ballina’s Derek McCarthy was calling the notes for Leitrim man Stephen Reynolds in the Junior section of the event and ably guided him to a seventh place finish.

Unfortunately, two Mayo crews failed to finish the event. Ballyhaunis man Shane Buckley damaged the sump on his Honda Civic during the opening loop while the Westport crew of David Healy and Stephen McGing were disappointed to have bowed out on the penultimate stage after an off road excursion.