An exciting Monaghan Rally, round three of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, was won by local duo of Josh Moffett/Jason McKenna (Ford Fiesta WRC). They finished 5.1 seconds in front of the similar car of top seeds and fellow locals Sam Moffett/James O'Reilly. Championship leaders Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan (Ford Focus WRC) were third - 7.8 seconds further behind.
On the opening stage Sam Moffett (Fiesta WRC) set the pace but his younger brother Josh was only two tenths of a second behind followed by the Subaru of Peadar Hurson, who was only nine tenths of a second further adrift.
Triton Showers Championship leader Donagh Kelly occupied fourth in his Ford Focus WRC just 1.3 seconds off the lead. Frank Wray retired his Subaru WRC with engine woes.
Kelly was quickest on the short second stage to take the lead but Josh Moffett set the best time on stage three and arrived at the Monaghan service halt as rally leader with a 3.7 seconds advantage.
Having softened the suspension after the opening stage Josh set a superb time on S.S. 3 on what is effectively his home stage. Second placed Kelly reckoned that he took a steady approach to all three stages while Sam Moffett lost time on the second stage when he overshot a junction.
Fourth placed Peadar Hurson reckoned his Subaru was somewhat twitchy while the battle for fifth was going the way of Stephen Wright (Fiesta R5) - he was four seconds ahead of the Subaru WRC of fellow Monaghan driver Niall Maguire.
Having pushed hard on the opening pair of stages Gary McPhillips (Escort) was steady through the final stage of the opening loop, he held seventh and led the Modified category by nine seconds with Declan Gallagher - in a late switch to his Toyota Starlet - his closest rival. The Escorts of John McQuaid and Jonathan Pringle completed the top ten.
Elsewhere, Triton Showers Championship regulars Roy White (MG ZR), Kevin Barrett (Subaru WRC) and Alan Ring (Subaru WRC) were outside the top ten.
In Group N, Pat Kirk (Mitsubishi) led Martin Doherty (Mitsubishi) by a mere two tenths of a second. Local ace Shane Maguire crashed his Mitsubishi out of the rally on the second stage while Paul Barrett (Subaru) had a moment on the opening stage that sapped his confidence.
Out on the repeat loop of three stages the battle for supremacy intensified - Josh Moffett was quickest on Stage 4, Kelly was the best driver through Stage 5 and Sam Moffett set the pace on Stage 6.
Josh Moffett arrived at the final service halt with a damaged front left wing, 'I was off the road after a crest and I was very lucky to get away with it.' Despite the indiscretion, the Monaghan drive led his brother Sam by 8.8 seconds with Kelly 1.6 seconds behind in third. The Triton Showers Championship leader opined 'That final stage of the loop is a real Fiesta stage and of course the Moffett's live there as well.'
Meanwhile, Hurson continued in fourth and having stiffened the Subaru he was far more pleased with its performance.
In the battle for fifth, Wright continued to lead Maguire, however, the latter had cut the deficit to just 1.3 seconds. Wright stated that the handling of the car was much improved after the set up was stiffened and the car was lowered a little.
Leader of the rear wheel drive category McPhillips was untroubled as was his rival Declan Gallagher, albeit for a slight overshoot on S.S. 6. The top ten was completed by Jonathan Pringle (Escort) and Roy White (MG ZR). In Group N, Martin Doherty was 3.2 seconds in front of Pat Kirk, also in a Mitsubishi. John McQuaid (Escort) crashed out on S.S. 5.
On the first stage of the final loop (S.S. 7) Sam Moffett cut the deficit to just three seconds with Kelly 10.2 seconds further adrift in third. Josh gained four tenths of a second on the penultimate test where Kelly was quickest. On the final stage Josh Moffett set the best time to clinch victory with Sam Moffett and Kelly completing the top three. As neither of the Moffett brothers registered for the Triton series, Kelly took maximum points and also the three additional points for the Power Stage as he extended his lead in the series
Hurson, Wright and Maguire completed the top six. Declan Gallagher (Toyota Starlet) won the Modified section- his rival and long time category leader Gary McPhillips crashed his Escort on the final corner of the final stage.
Defending National Rally champion Declan Boyle (Subaru WRC) was the principal non-starter due to transmission difficulties.
The Triton Showers Drive of the Day was won by Jonathan Pringle/Martin Byrne (Ford Escort).
Victory in the Group N category was won by Martin Doherty/Conor Foley (Mitsubishi).
Motorsport Safety Team Group N award:
1 Martin Doherty/Conor Foley (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 47m 33s
2 Trevor Bustard/John McCafferty (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 47m 37s
3 Pat Kirk/John McElhinney (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9) 47m 56s.
rally.ie Two wheel drive award: Declan Gallagher/Ryan Moore.
Three From Three - Is a hatrick on the cards for Moffett?
Posted: April 23, 2015 4:36 AM
25-year-old Sam Moffett heads an impressive entry for the weekend?s Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan Stages Rally, round three of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship and round two of the Sligo Pallets Border Rally Championship.
Moffett, the winner in Monaghan for the past two seasons will be keen to make it a hat-trick of wins on his home event but the current leader of the Irish Tarmac Championship won?t have it easy this weekend. Seeded second on the road is the current leader of the Trition series, Donagh Kelly. Kelly is on an unbeaten streak of five rallies stretching back to December in his Ford Focus World Rally Car and will be hoping his rich vein of form will continue into this weekend. Reigning champions, Declan and Brian Boyle are third on the road in their recently rebuilt Subaru. The Donegal cousins have had a frustrating season to date riddled with non-finishes and punctures and a change of fortune will be needed this weekend as the pair already find themselves twenty six points of championship leader Kelly.
Niall Maguire, a former multiple champion and Monaghan winner, will be looking to built on a strong start to his season in his Subaru and will start fourth on the road but it is the number five seed that many believe could spring a surprise. Josh Moffett, younger brother of Sam, has adapted to his Ford Fiesta World Rally car sooner than many expected, culminating in a sparkling performance on the recent Circuit of Ireland Rally and with this weekend?s stages taking place on Josh?s doorstep another strong finish looks likely. Jason McKenna will call the notes for Moffett this weekend. The top ten is rounded out by Peadar Hurson, former Billy Coleman Award winner Stephen Wright, championship sponsor Kevin Barrett, recent Circuit of Kerry winner Alan Ring and UK driver Steve Wood.
Gary McPhillips and Paul Sheridan are the top two wheel drive seeds at fourteen and will face stiff competition from Chris Armstrong, Frank Kelly, Jonathan Pringle, Pat Donegan, Declan Gallagher and Dessie Keenan to name but a few while Strabane driver Aidan Wray leads awat the Group N contenders. The leading cars will leave the Hillgrove Hotel at 10am this Sunday before tackling three stages repeated three times the Ballybay/Clontibret area with the winning crew arriving back in Monaghan shortly after 5pm.
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