Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty wins Sligo Stages Rally 2025

Irish Independent

17 hours ago

Doherty and Donegal's David Kelly were locked in a battle for top spot all afternoon until Kelly spun off on the final stage.
The bumper main field was expected to bring severe competition, and it delivered fully.
The opening stage, Sligo Junction sponsored Brae, took its toll on the best, as tipped favourite Josh Moffitt encountered a big off on the downhill section bring an end to his day.
The battle for the other top fielders remained intense even in his absence, with late entry David Kelly setting fastest, two seconds ahead of number one seed Eddie Doherty and Dessie Henry who were on matched times followed by the two Boyles.
Stage two, the Cloonacool Porter Ford sponsored tighter test, saw Eddie Doherty take the advantage going ahead by 1.8 seconds on Kelly, with Donegal man, and former winner, Boyle just 0.2 off second place.
Stage 3, before service, the DC Fire protection sponsored shortened sprint saw Doherty holding his lead but Boyle closed that gap to within 0.1 of second entering the Carty sponsored Service area at the Collooney roundabout.
For the second loop, the crews headed back for the Brae and once again it was David Kelly who braved the mountain test to set fastest and regain his lead holding a margin of No 1 seed Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty.
The Boyles were lying third and fourth marginally off the leading two, which remained constant over Cloonacool second time over.
On the shortened stage six, Doherty showed his advantage on the shorter sprint to regain the lead.
It was back to the Brae for the final loop, Kelly again showed his bravery over the mountain closing that gap to 0.8 of the leaders – a tight margin he again let slip on the penultimate stage with the gap moving out to 2.4.
David Kelly was making the final burst to close that gap on the final sprint but having a big spin mid stage brought an end to his rally, and Killkenny's Eddie Doherty and Tom Murphy were to lift the title of FAAC simply Automatic / Sligo Park Hotel – Stages Rally 2025 title.
Finishing second was Declan Boyle and Patrick Walsh, 10 seconds off the leader and indeed they saved the day for the remaining field when they sportingly cleared the Kellys car to a safe position in six minutes to let the final stage run.
His son Michael Boyle and Dermot Mc Cafferty on the notes finished third, making it a one, two, three for the Skoda Fabias.
From a local perspective, finishers included Paul Crosby and Eoin Lennon picking up the Mc Gowan Landscapes Award for the fastest Connacht Motor Club crew, John Mc Gettrick and Conor Lappin were 8th in Class 13.
Keith Ewing and Stefan Comerford in the busy Class 11F finished just outside the awards at 5th in the class with fellow locals 6th in that class Alan Lawson and Sean Harte capturing the Martin Kearns Memorial Award for the highest placed Connacht Motor Club finisher, not in receipt of any other award.
Jason Currid and John Conway took first in Class 15 as Boyle's Andy Heekin with David Mc Sorley on notes came second in that class.
Paul Mc Loughlin with Liam Nelis in their Sunbeam captured first in Class 10 ahead of Patsy Mc Donagh guided by local Leigh Cavanagh on notes.
Ferlin Taylor with Shane Barry on the notes took the RWD Peugeot to the finish line having a challenging week preparing the car for the weekend at 10th in the highly competitive Class 13.
Brian O Donnell and Oraith Mullaney in the unique MX5 came home next in class. North Sligo crew Colin Currid and Paul Gallagher crossed the finish ramp at 68th overall, while neighbouring competitor Patrick Herity with John Mc Carthy on notes finished 70th.
Rory and Katelyn Carrol took their Class 12 Escort to the finish ramp at 72nd overall. On his first event on tarmac in the driver seat, Jack Carty with Declan Boyle calling notes finished just outside the awards 4th in Class 10.
Ballymote's Alan and Gary Quinn in the Damp Master Opel Manta finished at 91st. Completing his 30th Sligo Rally at 65 years old, Brian McGarraghy with his son home from Australia, Mark took the meticulous yellow Escort across the ramp finishing 6th in Class 11R.
Miceal Currid with Shae Kelly shouting the notes took first in Class 1 in the Civic.
Gurteen's David Hunt with Gillian in the navigator seat, while being off for a period recovered to take 3rd in Class 2A. Also being off for a short period, Ballymote's David Quinn with Leigh Currid calling notes managed to take the Subaru, in the absence of the BMW, home to capture 3rd in Class 15.
At prizegiving it was emotional as the award in the memory of the late Gene Mc Donald and Daire Maguire was presented to the highest placed Class 13 finisher not in receipt of any other award who was Seimi Brown and Ciaran Harkin.
The Tommy Hughes Award, which is presided over by the synonymous John Comiskey for volunteers who include competitors, marshals, timekeepers, radio personnel, sponsors or anyone who contributes to the running of rallying in the northern region was presented to Andrew Mullen for his continuous support of rallying and devotion to rallying in the country.
The club would sincerely wish to acknowledge and thank the support and understanding of local residents, businesses, Garda and local authorities and to the many people who volunteered over the weekend.