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Irish Independent
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty wins Sligo Stages Rally 2025
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.
Irish Examiner
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Former Kilkenny hurler Doherty on local terrain in Raven's Rock Rally
Motorsport The biennial national rally championship calendar, introduced in 2022, brings some interesting situations, such as the progress of Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty, the current leader of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship that reaches its midpoint with Sunday's Waterford-based Raven's Rock Rally. Two years ago, campaigning a Mk. 2 Ford Escort, Doherty finished the penultimate stage of "The Rock" leading the Modified category and an impressive seventh overall. However, a final-stage puncture cost him the category win as he finished ninth overall. From one of the top exponents in the rear-wheel drive section, the former Kilkenny minor hurler is now equally adept in four-wheel drive category where he steers the Skoda Fabia R5 he debuted at the end of that same season. With his home county involved in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Tipperary, Doherty will be forgiven for the desire to check updates in between the rally stages where he will showcase his talent with equal aplomb. "Yes, it's (switch to Skoda) gone well but you are always looking for that bit extra to push on and hopefully we (with co-driver John Murphy) will get a better overall finish than two years ago." The terrain (with stages in County Kilkenny), while not overly familiar to Doherty, "is local in general terms." Many drivers can get caught out on their local stages, something that Doherty understands. "Where you know roads, especially on the fast stuff, it's easy to interpret them for other sections. Our pacenotes will be very important on Sunday. On the one-day events, it's all go from the start, you can't afford to wait and see what happens." Doherty will have all his familiar rivals like Monaghan's Josh Moffett, who, like a few others, will benefit from the three days seat time Donegal. Doherty hasn't competed since the last Triton round in Cavan where things didn't go according to plan when he finished fifth. He still leads the series - three points ahead of Sam Moffett, with Josh (Moffett) seven points further behind the third. Others is search of valuable points are Derry's Desi Henry, who will pilot a Ford Fiesta Rally2 as his Citroen C3 Rally2 is being re-fettled, Declan and Michael Boyle in their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars, Tyrone's Jason Dickson (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Ballylickey's Daniel Cronin (Citroen C3 Rally2). The top ten also features Clonakilty's David Guest (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Paul Barrett (Citroen C3 Rally2) while akin to Guest, Enniskerry's Daniel Barry (VW Polo GTi R5), Clonakilty's Cal McCarthy (Citroen C3 Rally2) and Dunmanway's Jason McSweeney (Skoda Fabia R5) will be without the shackles of the national championship. The top contenders in the rear wheel drive category are Wexford's James Stafford and the Escorts of Monaghan's Johno Doogan and Cavan's Chris Armstrong. The first stage starts at 10.15am. Meanwhile, as the European Rally Championship returns to sealed surfaces with the Rally di Roma in the Eternal City, Kesh driver Jon Armstrong reckons he can push for more podiums following his third place in the recent Rally Poland, his first podium of the current ERC season. The M-Sport Ford WRT driver said, 'It definitely makes it more achievable to have a good result now. We've had good pace all year but no result. We could have been in a good position in the championship now because we've been faster than the guys on top on most rallies. It's a shame but this is how it goes sometimes." Championship leader Miko Marczyk (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) holds a 16-point lead over Mads Ostberg (Citroen C3 Rally2). Following this (Friday) evening's Colosseum 1.3km super special stage there are six stages tomorrow and six more on Sunday. The strong Irish contingent includes Philip Allen (Skoda Fabia Rally2), Eamonn Boland (Fiesta Rally2) and Billy Coleman award winner Craig Rahill (Peugeot 208 Rally4). Elsewhere, the Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship continues tomorrow with the Loughgall Stages Rally with double event winner Carndonagh's Aaron McLaughlin (VW Polo GTi R5) heading the entry from Armagh pair Damien Toner (Ford Escort) and Jason Black (Toyota Starlet).
Irish Examiner
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Motorsport: No fear of the unknown for championship leader Eddie Doherty
It doesn't really bother Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia R5) that he will be in somewhat unfamiliar places and situations this weekend. As he continues his quest to win the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, the former county minor hurler has never competed in the Cavan Rally, this Sunday's third round of the campaign. Following an impressive victory in the previous round - the Circuit of Kerry - he has grabbed a nine-point lead in the series - the first time he has ever led by more than a handful of points. Agreeing that a good reconnaissance of the stages is key, he said, "We don't treat these things any different to what we do any other rally weekend. The Circuit of Kerry was our first time doing it and we were able to win the rally. I don't think any more into it, that process could wreck your head. It's great to have a competitive entry and there are four of five (drivers) doing the Maiden City Rally on Saturday and they will have plenty of seat time. The national series is our primary concern for this year." He concluded: "Last year I made the mistake thinking about points and at the end of the year it didn't work out. You have to win rallies to get a good championship result." What will be familiar though is his championship opposition that includes Josh and Sam Moffett in Hyundai's, Robert Barrable (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), Cathan McCourt (Hyundai i20 Rally2, Desi Henry (Citroen C3 Rally2), Donegal trio David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) and the Skoda Fabia Rally2 cars of Michael and Declan Boyle, local ace Gary Kiernan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Cork's Daniel Cronin (Citroen C3 Rally2). Garry Jennings (Ford Fiesta Rally2) is also in the top ten. Meanwhile and in the absence of series leader William Creighton from this weekend's Jim Clark Rally in Scotland, the third round of the Probite British Rally Championship is likely to have a new frontrunner with M-Sport's Romet Jurgenson, the FIA Rally Star and reigning Junior WR champion favourite to capitalise. A family wedding has ruled Creighton out on this occasion while top seed and last year's rally winner Keith Cronin withdrew his entry following his accident of the Rally of the Lakes and is pausing his rallying for the immediate future to concentrate on business interests. Estonian Jurgenson (25) is aiming to secure back-to-back wins but Welsh aces James Williams (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) and Meirion Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), local hero Garry Pearson (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Max McRae (Citroen C3 Rally2) will aim to deny him the spoils. Evans is targeting a strong result. 'We certainly go to the event with confidence, having had a strong run on the Rally of the Lakes. Although the Scottish stages are a lot different in character to the ones in Killarney, the plan is to carry that form into this weekend and put in another good performance." Clonakilty's Cal McCarthy (Citroen C3 Rally2) is a late entry. In the Junior BRC, Irish drivers Kyle McBride, Joe Kelly and Kalum Graffin, all in Peugeot 208 Rally4 cars, will be chasing maximum points. Beginning with the Langton Mill stage and its iconic water splash, there are six stages this evening and eight more tomorrow. Elsewhere, the Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship reaches midpoint with tomorrow's Derry based Maiden City Rally. Local ace Desi Henry (Citroen C3 Rally) heads a competitive entry that includes series leader, Donegal's Aaron McLaughlin (VW Polo GTi R5), who is seeded at nine. Like many others Kesh driver Garry Jennings (Ford Fiesta Rally2) is utilising the rally as a shakedown for the Donegal International. That grouping also includes Omagh's Cathan McCourt (Hyundai i20 Rally2), Donegal's David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5) and recent winner of the Tipperary Forest Rally, Jason Mitchell (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2). Glengormley's Derek McGarrity (VW Polo GTi R5) returns to the series as Warrenpoint's Peadar Hurson and Strabane's Aidan Wray in VW Polo GTi R5's along with Joe McGonigle (Citroen C3 Rally2) round out the top ten. The first of the day's seven stages starts at 9.53am.
