Kieran’s late entry pays off at Kerry Winter Rally
Sean Moriarty
CAVAN driver Garry Kiernan only decided on Friday that he was going to enter the Kerry Motor Club’s Banna Beach Resort Kerry Winter Rally but that did not stop him scoring a start-to-finish victory.
Kiernan and co-driver Keith Moriarty, from Abbeyfeale, were using the north-Kerry based event as a high speed test ahead of next month’s Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally and must surely start as one of the modified section’s favourites following Sunday’s domination.
The Escort crew were 11 second quicker than last year’s winners Daniel Cronin and Shane Buckley over the opening 17km stage near Abbeydorney. After two stages they were a further 23 seconds to the good and by this stage it was a matter of who could finish second. Cronin’s challenge ended at the start of stage four when a wheel bearing failed in his new Mitsubishi Lance E10.
Clare driver Padraig Egan looked certain to take over the second spot on the podium but a puncture on the same stage ended his hopes. This left Shane Maguire as the comfortable second placed driver , a result that earned him the overall Top Part West Coast championship for a third year in a row.
The top all Kerry Motor Club crew went to Tom Relihan and Maurice McElligott in their Ford Escort MK1. They were fourth after stage one but kept the pressure on to record a well-deserved podium and were awarded the coveted Donal O’Flaherty memorial trophy for their efforts.
Tim Enright was just four seconds behind in fourth but unfortunately it was not enough to take the West Coast title from Maguire.
Mick Quinn and Tony Healy, event winners in 2013, were fifth and winners of Class 14 after a trouble-free run. Husband and wife team Eoin and Brenda Duffin were second in this class in a similar Escort. Charlie Hickey from Killarney had John McCarthy on pace note duty for the first time and they were third in that class in another Escort.
Tadgh O’Sullivan and Eoin O’leary were third in class 13.
Father and daughter crew, Jason and Meegan Costelloe won class 12 R on Meegan’s first rally.
Ger O’Brien and John Liston won the best non-placed Kerry Motor Club crew by bringing his Escort home in 18th place.
Mike and Paddy Costello were second in Class 12 R while Kevin O’Sullivan and Sean Nolan were third.
Darren Young and Sean Walsh were also third in their class in a Honda Civic, just ahead of Pat Slattery and Sean Campbell. Jakes Kelly was third in his class on his first run in a hired Subaru. Steven and Adrian O’Connor won the junior rally from Pa Naughton and John Cahill, both crews in Civics.
Father and son team Mike and Colin Nelligan were fifth in class 11 in what was Colin’s first rally. Tommy O’Sullivana and Kevin Rohan won class two in a newly acquired Ford Focus. Mike Kenny and Gene Stack won class 12.
Kerry Auto Solo champion Daniel Chung marked his debut with fourth in the junior section. Local co-driver Tony McCarthy guided James Hall to victory in the historic section. David Griffin and David Leslie were third in the historic element marking Griffin’s debut behind the wheel.
MEANWHILE, Paul Nagle and Kris Meeke bring their 2017 World Rally Championship campaign to close on this weekend’s Rally Australia which starts Thursday.
Before departing for Down Under last week, Meek said: “I have some very good memories of my three appearances in Australia. In 2015, I had led the rally for two days before losing out to the VWs, but third place was nonetheless a very good result.
“This year a few of the stages that appeared last year will be new to me, but that shouldn’t be a big problem because I feel comfortable on these roads. There are some characteristics that you just don’t get anywhere else. For example, the trees are so tall in the jungle that the light flashes through the branches, creating a ‘strobe’ effect. The changes in light can make it very difficult to read the road.
“I’m looking forward to contesting the Nambucca speed test again – it’s one of the finest stages of the season in my opinion. Considering our performance level at the last two gravel rallies, I think we’ll be there or thereabouts.”
KILLARNEY and District Motor Club marked 40 years with a gathering in O’Shea’s pub Miltown, the very venue where it all began in 1977, last Friday night.