After almost 100km of rallying, Josh Moffett and Keith Moriarty (Citroën C3 Rally2) took victory on the 2024 Ronnie Hawe Monaghan Stages Rally by just 11 seconds from Sam Moffett and James O'Reilly (Hyundai i20 Rally2). From the outset, the event was billed as a showdown between the Combilift brothers, who were both looking to take a fourth victory on their home event.
A full entry of more than 160 starters left the Four Seasons Hotel on Sunday morning to tackle a compact route of three stages three times in the north Monaghan area. Josh headed the field as 2022 winner, but it was first blood to Sam who took the opening Sheetrim test by 1.6 seconds. VW Polo crew Daniel Cronin and Donnachadh Burke were the best of the rest as they held third, 6.5 seconds off the front. On the second stage the tables were turned and it was Josh who was now ahead, leading by 1.4 seconds after taking a fastest time by three seconds. Gary Kiernan and John McCabe climbed to fourth overall in their Ford Fiesta Rally2 with a third fastest time, taking four tenths from Cronin. After the third stage and heading to the service, Josh Moffett held a 1.7 second advantage after sneaking a few more tenths from his older brother. Cronin set another third fastest time but such was the pace of the leading two crews that the gap to the final podium place sat at 25 seconds. Back out on the stages, and just as it was on the first pass, Sam was fastest in Sheetrim and ate into Josh’s lead, but only by 0.2 seconds. Eddie Doherty/Tom Murphy (Skoda Fabia R5) were the big movers, leapfrogging Kiernan to take fourth, only eight seconds off Cronin. On SS5, the gap between the Moffett's returned to 1.7 seconds, highlighting the nip and tuck battle going on. Cronin had a soft roll into a field which ended his event and promoted Doherty to third. There was a four-way race for the position however, with less than ten seconds seperating third to sixth spot. The gap at the front reduced again going into the second service, just 1.1 seconds the difference after Sam took another stage win. Both commented that they wanted the win and neither would yield for the final loop. A spin on that stage left Kiernan frustrated as he lost 20 seconds to Doherty and the chasing pack.
After SS7, Sam was speechless as Josh took 3.6 seconds out of him and opened the gap to the largest it had been all day. Another 5.2 seconds was put between them on SS8 as Josh seemed to find an extra gear. Sam again struggled to understand, as he and co-driver O'Reilly continued to give a 100% effort. The final run through Factory Cross sealed victory number four for Josh Moffett. 11 seconds being the final gap, but as tight as it was, didn't tell the full story of the seconds being traded at the earlier part of the day. Josh admitted that it wasn't an easy day and that he was pushed to the very end. Sam said he'd no answer as he left it all out on the stages. Eddie Doherty rounded off the podium, almost a minute and a half off the front, he held off a late charge by Jason Mitchell and Paddy McCrudden who were just 3.9 seconds adrift in their Polo R5. Aidan Wray and Niall Burns were a further 6.1 seconds back in a similar car. Gary Kiernan was satisfied with his pace as the day progressed but rued the earlier spin as he finished 18.4 seconds off third.
Daniel and Andrew roll back the years for modified success
12 years on from their famous overall victory, Daniel McKenna and Andrew Grennan were the modified winners of the 2024 Ronnie Hawe Monaghan Stages Rally. It was ten years since Daniel competed on his home stages and the 2012 win was the last time Andrew was on the notes for him in a Monaghan rally. In a stacked entry, no one was tipped a favourite as there were a number of potential winners. It was Dessie Keenan and Jason McKenna who took fastest times on the first two stages. A misfire leaving Parc Ferme was worked on and the crew were mindful that the Escort wasn't singing as well as it should despite what the clock said. Kevin Gallagher and Ger Conway were second quickest on the opening stage in their Darrian T90. With McKenna/Greenan behind them and the two identical Moffett Starlets of David Moffett/Martin Connolly and Richard Moffett/Darragh Kelly setting identical times to sit fourth and fifth after SS1. Gary McPhillips/Paul Sheridan were sixth, but just two seconds off the fastest time. After just 10km, it was already set to be an entertaining and competitive day. Gallagher dropped to fourth on SS2, bumping McKenna and Richard Moffett up. David Moffett dropped nine seconds and three positions but were still within touching distance.
Before the start of SS3, Keenan's engine continued to give trouble so a decision was made to return to take a nominal time, return to service for a fix and return for the later loops to test the car and see what could have been. This, mixed with a road penalty for McKenna meant Gallagher led from McPhillips entering first service, with Richard Moffett third and Damien Tourish/Domhnall McAlaney fourth. A terminal gearbox problem meant the Moffett Starlet wouldn't leave service and family honours rested on David's shoulders.
Gallagher and McPhillips dropped time on SS4 which moved Tourish to second and McKenna set a blistering time to move to the top of the category. McKenna's was the third fastest of all competitors, just 1.2 seconds off Sam Moffett. On SS5, David Moffett was the big mover. He set a fastest time and jumped to third, only 0.8 seconds off Tourish. McPhillips closed the gap to Gallagher to just 0.2 seconds, and at just 9.1 seconds off the lead, he was still within touching distance. A quickest time for Tourish on SS6 gave him breathing space to Moffett and moved him closer to McKenna but didn't change the overall positions. On SS7 and SS8, Moffett made another charge and was within 0.1 seconds of Tourish and 7.3 seconds to McKenna. Kevin Gallagher was a further 5.3 back, with McPhillips 1.6 off him. With 12.2km of SS9 to go and intermittent showers, 14.2 seconds covered the top five.,Kevin Gallagher left it all on the road and he set a fourth fastest overall stage time to take second at the last moment. Damien Tourish was demoted to third by just 0.1 seconds. David Moffett made an all or nothing push but the bruised Starlet would settle for fourth after an altercation with a bale. McPhillips took no chances and secured fifth from Jason Black who was ready to pounce on any slip-up. But it was to be McKenna and Grennan's day as the popular double act returned to winning ways and regained their title as the modified masters of Monaghan.
Monaghan Stages Rally: Class results
Class 1
The rapid Mini Cooper S of Kevin Flanagan and Mark Reilly was an early retirement. Their rally ended after completing just one stage.
Class 2
Gareth Deazley and Oisin Joyce were the winners of Class 2. They had a 58.3 second gap to Dylan Donoghue and Kirsty O’Callaghan. Craig Rahill and Conor Smith were a further 15.8 seconds back, having led the class for most of the event. Tommy Moffett and Domhnall Lennon finished fifth in class and set a third-fastest time on the final stage as they continue to bed into their Rally4 Fiesta. As a short-notice sub, Ryan Farrell guided Niall McKenna to sixth in the same class. Shane Gilhooly and Des Sherlock finished seventh. Jason and Daniel McConnon’s rally ended on SS2. They were fifth fastest on the opening test.
Class 2A
Sean Scanlon and Paul McGlinchey took Class 2A honours with Davy Hunt and Gillian Gilmartin second.
Class 3
Ruairi and Martin McGarrity were Class 3 winners. Navigation trial duo Pakie Duffy and Evin Hughes returned to the stages and took second in class in a Honda Civic.
Class 4
Shane Quinn and Patrick Brides took the Class 4 lead on SS5 in their Fiesta Rally 3 and didn’t look back. The Mitsubishi Evo of Tomas O’Rourke and Tomas Scallan was second, with John and Andy Hayes third.
Class 5
With the Overall top three forgoing their class awards, Jason Mitchell and Patrick McCrudden took the class from Aidan Wray/Niall Burns. Gary Kiernan/John McCabe was third. January Navigation Trial winners Molly and Shane Maguire became rivals this weekend as they competed in separate Class 5 cars. On her first stages event, Molly guided her father and multiple rally winner Niall to 12th in Class in a Citroen C3 Rally2. Shane had his brother Paul on the notes in a Fiesta R5. They finished 15th.
Class 9
Neil Somerville and Conor McGurren won the class from Jason Mooney and Gary Lockhart.
Class 10
Cathal Sheridan and Coel Leonard took class honours. Peter Farrell handed his son Shane the keys of the family Toyota Corolla and called notes as they took second on Shane’s first stages behind the wheel. Ryan Treanor and Bob Graham retired their Peugeot 205 on the penultimate stage.
Class 11F
Sam Johnston and Colin Duffy took the Class 11F win from David Healy and Martin Byrne. Gavin Russell and Daniel Callaghan were third. Jack Maguire and Keith McConnon were sixth. Francis Rafferty and Adam Langan were 13th. Conor Hagan and Aaron Boyle were just behind in 14th. 2022 Junior winner Mark Fox, with Calum Maguire on the notes, retired on SS9.
Class 11R
Anthony Hand and David McCrudden took six stage wins on their way to 11R victory. They had 3.3 seconds to spare over Ben McIntyre and Anthony McDonald. Barry Treanor and Mickey Brennan took third, with Martin McPhillips and Damien Doherty fourth. Bernard McGinley and Patrick During were fifth in a Starlet RWD. Martin Swinburne was calling notes for David Murray in his new Toyota Starlet, but their rally ended on the eighth stage.
Class 12
Justin Smyth and Sean Mitchell took Class 12 in their green Escort MKII. Ryan McArdle and Conor Moloughney were second with Michael Conlon and James McEneaney third. Pauric Mohan and Jarlath Kelly were ninth in class.
Class 13
Seamus Connolly and Gary McCrudden moved to a Class 13 Escort and were on the pace straight from the start as they set four fastest times and won the class by almost a minute ahead of Gary Cassidy and Damien Sheridan, also in a new Escort. Arthur Kierans and Shane Maguire were sixth on Shane’s first tarmac event. Raymond Conlon and Gavin Doherty took their Corolla to eighth. Gerard McQuaid and Gary Quinlan were tenth in class. Barry and Jonathan McKenna were 14th. Gerry McGivney and Donal Crossan finished 17th. Paddy O’Reilly and David Fizsimmons’ rally ended in a field on SS2. James McCarville and Conal McNulty retired on SS4.
Class 14
Read the Modified report for details on the top five finishers in Class 14. Michael Carbin and Dean O’Sullivan took their new Escort MKII to eighth. Johno Doogan and Paul Lennon finished tenth. Killian McArdle guided Michael Cahill to 11th. After returning under superrally, Dessie Keenan and Jason McKenna finished 17th in class, saying they were out in the afternoon to enjoy themselves and take in the stages. John McQuaid and Pierce O’Callaghan failed to make the finish.
Class 15
Brian Comiskey and Declan Campbell took Class 15 ahead of Patrick Connolly and Owen Gallagher.
Class 20
Martin Toner and Ben Teggart took the win in the unique Millington-powered Proton. Kieran Roarty and Michael O’Donnell were second.
Junior Class 16
Kyle McDaid and Shane Maguire won the Junior category on a tiebreak. They were level after nine stages with Jason Wilkinson and Ciaran McGinley but awarded the win by virtue of having a faster time on the last stage. Jordan Jervis and James McBrearty were third.
Historic
Trevor Wilson and Paul Mullholland won the Historic rally in a beautiful BMW M3. David Armstrong and Ashley Trimble were second and Malcolm Pedlow and John Henderson third. Brendan McAree and Kevin Treanor brought their Porsche 911 to fourth.
