RALLY NEWS No.11 - After final stage - Sunday @ 15:46:21
RALLY NEWS NO.11 Finish/Galway/Sunday
UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 13 FINAL STAGE
1st (4) Declan & Brian Boyle (Impreza WRC) 1.10.00.0
2nd (1) Garry Jennings/Rory Kennedy (Impreza WRC) 1.10.25.5
3rd (5) Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (Focus WRC) 1.11.28.6
4th (6) Sam Moffett/James O`Reilly (Fiesta WRC) 1.11.32.4
5th (14) Josh Moffett/John Rowan (Lancer) 1.15.44.7
6th (26) Stephen McCann/Lisa O`Dowd (|Lancer N) 1.16.04.0
7th (21) Eugene Meegan/Sarah Whelan (Lancer N) 1.16.11.5
8th (15) Martin Doherty/Conor Foley (Lancer N) 1.16.40.4
9th (29) Brendan Cumiskey/Ronan O`Kane (Lancer N) 1.17.30.7
10th (27) Pat Kirk/John McElhinney (Lancer N) 1.17.47.3
UNOFFICIAL NAT. L/BOARD AFTER AFTER 13 – FINAL STAGE
1st (16) Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore (Starlet rwd) 1.14.06.7
2nd (17) Wesley Patterson/Johnny Baird (Escort) 1.16.17.0
3rd (25) Pat Kelly/Jonathan Kelly (Impreza) 1.16.45.9
4th (34) Kevin Eves/Chris Mellor (Corolla TC) 1.16.51.2
5th(19) Tom Flaherty/Patrick Curley (Escort) 1.17.47.2
6th (32) Richard & James Whelan (Civic) 1.18.54.9
7th (46) Maurice Greaney/Keith McHugh (Lancer) 1.19.24.9
8th Martin Donnelly 9th David Quigley10th Neil Pierce 11th Mark Nangle
There was a fascinating two pronged battle at the front of this Colm Quinn BMW Galway International Rally over the final few stages. Declan Boyle had to fight very hard to stop Garry Jennings displacing him for 1st place overall while Donagh Kelly and Sam Moffett had a huge battle for the final podium place. As it turned out, Declan & Brian Boyle in their Subaru have won from Garry Jennings & Rory Kennedy. Donagh Kelly & Kevin Flanagan just pipped Sam Moffett & James O`Reilly for 3rd o/a. The winner of the National category was a lot clear cut.
Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore had a huge lead over their closest pursuers Wesley Patterson/Johnny Baird and Donegal man Gallagher made on mistakes on the last few stages. For Declan & Brian Boyle today marks the beginning of their Clonakilty Blackpudding backed Tarmac Championship campaign in the best possible manner. They came under big pressure from current Tarmac Champion Garry Jennings today and of course on every stage Declan Boyle was having to keep a careful watch on his Subaru engine coolant pressure gauge. It was touch and go at times whether the car would keep going. Co-driver Brian Boyle, along with the rest of the team did a great job. Declan`s chances were increased of course when Garry`s Subaru hit a flood and went off the road on the Bradys Yard stage.
Sam Moffett was having his first run this weekend in a Fiesta WRC and found the car slightly under-geared for some of the stages today and that small lack of top speed probably made all the difference in the end between himself and Donagh Kelly. In the Historic Rally Ray Cunningham/Adrian Cusack had a great win in their Mini Cooper S. Ross Forde/Paul Horan were 2nd in their RS1800, then it was John Reid/Enda Shiels were 3rd in another Escort. With 1 stage to go Niall O`Sullivan/Patrick Horan were leading the Juniors in their Citroen from Sean Brady/Barry McLoughlin (Civic).
Finally for now we would like to thank everyone who helped and supported our RallyNews service. Just some include…Eleanor O`Boyle: Niamh Bent: Dougie Hughes: Aidan Harper & Conor. Plus all the sponsors who support RallyNews. Congratulations to CoC Kieran Donoghue and all his Galway MC team for putting the rally together under such trying conditions.
BRAIN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net
