It seems like a long time since the opening round the Dunlop National Championship back in March, but reigning National Champion Niall Maguire will head away the 131 crews from the Hillgrove Hotel start of this year’s Monaghan Stages Rally. Round two of both the Dunlop National and Quinn Group Border Championship sees all the main contenders back in action again today. Tackling three very tough Monaghan stages in total, run three times each with central service here at the Hillgrove.

Pre-start favourite has to be local star Niall Maguire. Niall starts his home event chasing a record 5^th consecutive victory in his immaculate McElvaney backed Impreza WRC, and will also be looking to open his points tally in both championships following his first round retirement. But both he and No2 seed Eugene Donnelly have had a few dramas getting their respective machinery to the start. Donnelly, who won in Mayo, rolled his Envirocare Impreza last weekend on the Circuit of Ireland, and although the car was mechanically undamaged, he will use his older Celica today. Maguire had a new engine fitted to his car, but a small fault was found on that unit, so the Harper team has installed the engine from Eugene’s circuit car. All this and the rally hasn’t even started yet !.

At No3 Michael Barrable, could be the dark horse today. The Dubliner finished a strong 2^nd on the Mayo Stages, but his pace on the more recent West Cork rally has shown that he has definitely got to grips with his Impreza WRC. Dermot O’Gorman will co-drive today. English visitors Jim Harrison and Harvey Bell start at 4 in the McKinstry Impreza, they are chasing that elusive 1^st Dunlop national win while David Armstrong at 5 cannot be discounted in his ex Mel Evans Escort WRC. Charlie Donnelly is a non starter at 6, as brother Eugene is driving the Celica. Other drivers worth watching include Cavan’s Patrick Elliott and local businessman Adrian McElvaney who both drive Impreza WRC’s.

The battle for 2wd honours should be just as interesting today. Emyvale driver Mac McKenna is indecently fast in his little Peugeot, regularly embarrassing some of the 4wd crews and today should be no different on his home patch. Philip Shaw, Enda Keenan and Maurice Moffett are some of the crews who should be chasing McKenna hard. Keep an eye out for young Dessie Keenan at 23 in his little Peugeot. Dessie has just driven overnight from the Pirelli Rally in Northern England where he finished 4^th Peugeot on Friday’s rally and 9^th on Saturday.

Changes to the entry list include Paddy Toner, co driving for Eugene Donnelly. Francis Regan will be sitting with George Robinson at 16 and Ger Healey co drives for Hal Lewis. Those getting a run from the reserve list include Derek Jobb (155) running 35^th on the road, John Watters (147) running at 58 and Adrian McElhinney (146) running 67^th to name but a few.

More news from the end of the first stage. Michael Patterson & Zoe Todd