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RALLY NEWS NO.12
Killarney/Finish/Sunday
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 19 (LAST STAGE)
1st (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Impreza WRC) 2.29.47.8
2nd (7) Donie O'Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Impreza WRC) 2.32.22.9
3rd (3) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 2.32.34.5
4th (4) Eamonn Boland/ Damien Morrissey (Impreza WRC) 2.36.07.8
5th (8) Maurice Gass/Geoffrey Orr (Impreza WRC) 2.36.28.7
6th (24) Denis Cronin/Helen O'Sullivan (BMW M3) 2.39.55.5
7th (22) Dickie Curran/Billy McCullins (Lancer N) 2.41.04.7
8th (15) Johnny O'Sullivan/Jakes Kelly (Escort WRC) 2.42.05.1
9th (21) Aaron MacHale/Damien Connolly (Lancer N) 2.44.42.1
10th (17) Paddy White/Frank Sweeney (Impreza WRC) 2.42.59.3
11th (29) Michael Curran/Dessie Wilson (Lancer N) 2.44.22.9
12th (48) Padraig Price/Richard Price (Escort) 2.46.16.9
Dramas continued right to the end of this Gleneagle Hotel Killarney Rally of the
Lakes. Austin MacHale whittled away at Eugene Donnelly's lead and moved in
front on stage 17, Ballaghbeama, by just 2.5 seconds. On stage 18 however Austin
put his Subaru off the road, happily both Austin and co driver Brian Murphy are
OK. Only consolation for Austin is winning the Bertie Fisher Memorial Award for
fastest over Molls Gap. Suddenly Eugene Donnelly, under so much pressure for
most of the event, was out on his own by over 2 minutes from 2nd placed Donie
O'Sullivan. Donie went into the final stage just 17s in front of Derek
McGarrity, and managed to hold on to the runner up spot, despite McGarrity
turning in a fastest stage time. Derek McGarrity's 3rd place reinforces
his lead in the Tarmac Championship. Eamonn Boland is 2nd in the series, Eamonn
battling back from almost last in the rally following a first stage puncture, to
come through to 4th. When Eugene Donnelly and co driver Paul Kiely reached
the finish here at the Gleneagle Hotel Eugene said "I'm delighted, what a
weekend. It was a very tough pace with Austin. We were really pushing and I feel
sorry for him, I didn't want it to end that way. I was confident that I could
win the last few stages, I had a good recce. I'm delighted for Donie as well to
finish 2nd. The engine was really knackered at the end, the oil lights were
flashing, we just made the finish by the skin of our teeth. The Stan Harper
Preparation boys did a fantastic job". Donie O'Sullivan, 2nd on his
home rally, with Paul Nagle co driving, again in his home town, said "I'm
numb, just can't believe it, fantastic". Derek McGarrity said
"We had a good run at the end, clocked in some fastest times. The car
wasn't just right, and I think if it had been I could have won, but we didn't
and in the circumstances I'm delighted to finish where we have".
Eamonn Boland pulled all the stops out towards the end to move ahead of Maurice
Gass. Gass said "We struggled all weekend, always on the wrong tyres".
Denis Cronin finished best 2 wheel drive in his BMW M3, and said "We were
cruising towards the end, I'm tired out, not fit".
Dickie Curran, the group N winner, commented "I just loved this afternoon's
stages. What a rally!" An extra bonus for Dickie is his son, still a
rallying novice finishing 3rd in gpN behind Aaron MacHale. Dickie leads the gpN
category in the Tarmac Championship, Aaron MacHale is 2nd.
In the Ford Ireland Focus Challenge Colm Murphy came out on top and finished
18th overall, winning class 7 as well. John Foley, Oliver Stanley and David
Delaney filled the next 3 places. As can be seen above, Padraig Price
scored a brilliant 12th overall and is cl.11 winner ahead of Tom Halliday who
was 14th. Finally for now, huge congratulations to Mike & Noreen Marshall
and all in Killarney Motor Club, plus everyone else who worked so hard to make
the rally such a success. Thanks also to all who helped and supported the
RallyNews service. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON
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