Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin were the convincing winners of the Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally.
The pair had just over a minute to spare after three tough days of rallying.
The Cork/Kerry combination took the lead early on the second day in atrocious conditions and were never seriously threatened once Callum Devine suffered a puncture on the third of Saturday's stages.
The weather was much kinder on Sunday's six stages and Cronin showed a masterclass in managing the lead throughout the day. Cronin never letting his concentration slip, to become the first Cork winner of the event since 2013.
In the end, Cronin had 57.2 seconds to spare over Matt Edwards and David Moynihan in similar Fiesta Rally 2. The Ford domination was completed with William Creighton and Liam Regan coming home in third place, 29 seconds further back.
Creighton, the reigning Junior World Rally Champion, took several fastest times in an impressive showing over the weekend.
Winners for the past two-years; Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes had to settle for fourth place on this occasion. However, the Monaghan driver showed good pace, finally getting to drive the Citroen on dry roads for a full day.
Moffett tops Rally 2 Trophy
That result was also enough for Moffett to take the top points in the Citroen Racing C3 Rally 2 Trophy.
Jonny Greer/Niall Burns and David Kelly/Dean O’Sullivan rounded out the top six. Kelly has been a regular competitor on navigation trial events this years. Which may have helped him build confidence on Friday's night stages.
Brendan Cumiskey and Arthur Kierans took Rally3 honours in their Fiesta and finished 13th OA. Whereas, Kevin Eves and Chris Melly were impressive modified winners once their got their noses in front on the Saturday.
Their task was made easier on Sunday’s first stage at Ardfield, once Jonathan Pringle and Pearse O’Callaghan went off the road. Indeed, Damian Toner & Kevin Horgan who took second in their Escort with JF Shovelin & Terence Furey in another Escort, third.
Gary McPhillips and Paul Sheridan had a troubled run in West Cork. Six nominated times on the first two days dashed any hopes of a result, but a clean Sunday loop saw them always within the top four modified stage times.
In the Rally 4 category, Killian McArdle was on the notes for Joe Kelly in the Peugeot 208.
Their progress took a hit when they needed Super rally rules to re-join on the second day. They then went off for good on the final stage of the event after hitting standing water.
