Kerry competitors to the fore of Rally of the Lakes
Kerryman
Killarney and District Motor Club members are set to dominate this weekend's Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes, with local co-drivers occupying three of the top four seeds in the event's premier Rally2 category.
Topping the entry list is Callum Devine, guided by Muckross native Noel O'Sullivan. The Skoda Fabia RS pairing comes into O'Sullivan's after a thrilling last-minute win at the Circuit of Ireland over the Easter weekend. They are chasing a remarkable fourth consecutive Rally of the Lakes victory.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
08-08-2025
- Irish Independent
Kerry co-driver Noel O'Sullivan aiming for Ulster Rally win and second Irish Tarmac crown
Callum Devine and his Killarney co-driver Noel O'Sullivan can wrap up a second Irish Tarmac Rally Championship crown at the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally on August 15-16.
Irish Examiner
25-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Sligo stage second-half comeback to break Cork City hearts and push club closer to drop
Premier Division: Cork City 2 (McLaughlin 7', Maguire 56') Sligo Rovers 3 (Elding 60', McClean 79', O'Kane 89') An hour constituting Cork City's best performance of the season was followed by a half hour characteristic of the reasons they're staring relegation in the face. This was the first time in Ger Nash's reign that his team scored more than once but all the 2-0 lead triggered was a capitulation in keeping with their failings. Failure to see out the job against ninth-placed Sligo swung a potential shortening of the gap to five points into an 11-point gulf. Even Roy Keane, watching on from the stand could analyse the morass. Nash pleaded for unity in the build-up, acknowledging the fractures surrounding the club since his arrivals, especially off the pitch with rancour against owner Dermot Usher. Trying to fuse a team has proven a challenge too. Transfer turnover is an occupational hazard when attempting to survive in the top-flight but just when activity entered a lull, came news of Malik Dijksteel's pre-contract transfer to St Mirren at the end of the season. Nash made a point of declaring commitment from his players on the eve of the match, making it little surprise to see Dijksteel culled entirely from the squad. The flying Dutchman's move to Scotland could be accelerated to this window. Conversely, that Kitt Nelson chose to stay rather than return to his parent club, Preston North End, was cited as the reason for him being the sole non-Irishman in the team. He had scored in both of the 1-1 draws against Sligo this season and was again a livewire without rattling the net. When Seáni Maguire zipped the ball into his feet after seven minutes, the attacker had the vision to try swap passes with Evan McLaughlin inside the box. His run sufficiently distracted Sligo to allow the Derryman cut in from the right side and drill his shot through the legs of Patrick McClean and past Sam Sargeant despite the 'keeper getting a hand to the effort. McLaughlin's previous goal this season came in City's last win on Easter Monday and it had the effect of allaying the anxiety that the side seemed to be crippled by this term. City carried all the attacking impetus in a first half they ought to have had more to show than a single strike. Josh Fitzpatrick's long throw led to Nelson having a crack and he was again denied by Sargeant as the interval approached. Fiacre Kelleher, playing his first league game at Turner's Cross since returning from England, was a colossal presence at the back. He posed a danger in the opposition box too, towering from a corner to nod marginally wide. City also had to withstand the loss of teenage spark Cathal O'Sullivan on 20 minutes. For a player with a history of knee injuries, it was a concern to see him clutching that area when hobbling off. Any prospect of him being snapped up by an English club in this window now? Any prospect of his club staying up hinged on victory too, and although Will Fitzgerald twice went close early in the second half, City grabbed what at the time felt the crucial second goal. While Maguire's poacher's instincts have been scarce this season, his trademark repertoire was demonstrated after 57 minutes. Cutting in from the right, he was initially denied by Sargeant before Fitzpatrick tried to complete the rebound. He didn't have to, as Maguire swivelled before burying the loose ball home from eight yards. Two goals to the good, the other side of City's season soon afflicted them. Three minutes later, Jad Hakiki was afforded too much time and space in the middle to free Elding. He followed in to finish after Conor Brann thwarted his initial shot. Fitzpatrick then blazed over at the other end and the miss would be costly. When Brann turned Hakiki's 78th-minute shot around the post, City's defence were caught napping from the resultant corner. McClean availed by planting his header into the far corner. Despite the visitors holding the momentum, City forged the next best chance as O'Sullivan's replacement, Alex Nolan, crashed a 20-yard shot off the underside of the crossbar. That was in the 88th minute and within 60 seconds, the net at the opposite end bulged. One of Sligo's new loan captures, Ryan O'Kane, sidestepped debutant Kaedyn Kamara inside the box and his rising shot sneaked past Brann at his near post. CORK CITY: C Brann; H Nevin, F Kelleher, R Feely, M Kiernan (B Couto 83); D Crowley, E McLaughlin; C O'Sullivan (A Nolan 20), K Nelson (K Kamara 83), J Fitzpatrick (B Lee 83); S Maguire (C Lutz 75). SLIGO ROVERS: S Sargeant; C Reynolds (F Lomboto 70), O Denham, P McClean, S Stewart; S Quirk, J McManus; R O'Kane, J Hakiki, W Fitzgerald; O Elding. Referee: Paul Norton (Dublin). Attendance: 2,673.
Irish Examiner
12-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
'Cork City have won one game in 22 – we're sick of losing': Ger Nash struggles to stop rot
Words are difficult to rationalise when statistics are so damning. Ger Nash did his utmost to portray an optimistic outlook after the Premier Division's basement side Cork City slipped to their 13th defeat of the season on Friday, as Munster rivals Waterford inflicted a 2-0 reverse. Thirteen is also the number of games City have gone without the taste of victory, but there was nothing unlucky about this loss, which keeps them five points adrift of the foot of the table. Granted, better finishing should have avoided another blank, but equally culpable to the outcome was slack defending. Different personnel at the back didn't prevent overplaying in the wrong areas, costing goals. There's the FAI Cup second round tie against non-league Leicester Celtic next Saturday before the rescue mission resumes on July 24, entering the final third of the season. City have back-to-back home games on successive Fridays against the two teams directly above them, Sligo Rovers and now Galway United. 'This team has won one game in 22,' Nash said, referring to the last of two victories this season, the Easter Monday comeback win over Waterford. 'We're sick of losing and that's a huge issue for us. 'It's really hard for players to have belief after that run but we need to go back to the drawing board to try to win games. There are 12 left and that's the only way to get ourselves out of this situation.' Nash, appointed to his first senior managerial job in May, spoke of the reasons for his winless run at the helm extending to eight. 'We had as many chances in the first half but Waterford were clinical,' he summarised. 'We created enough chances that with better finishing we'd have won the game. We could have had one or two in the first period but it's ifs and buts. 'We went out with a team and tactic to create chances – picking an attacking-minded side to let our players attack. We gave the first goal by trying to find the players. We know there's a lot of work to do. 'The reality is we're feeling it. That run is difficult on everyone. There's a transient nature of the group, changing management and players, and we're trying to build momentum from midseason at a crucial time.' Fan frustration has been growing in recent weeks. Over 500 made the 90-minute trip to Waterford and the away section aired their feelings at the final whistle. Unfortunately, a few scaled the fence and approached players and staff. 'It's completely understandable,' Nash observed. 'Fans pay their money and they travel wanting the team to win games. We've not done that but I can promise the fans that we do care. Everybody feels that pain and we are fighting.'
