Another successful Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally
Killarney and District Motor Club turned back time with another successful running of the Rentokil Initial Killarney Historic Rally.
Denis Moynihan and Ger Conway recorded their second overall win on Ireland’s only rally dedicated to historic rallying.
Driving a Ford Escort Mk1, the Millstreet and Faha crew recorded a start to finish victory in what was a relatively trouble free run.
Their 11 second victory added to their 2015 result and defied the fact that Moynihan has not competed since his previous victory on the event.
Runner’s up Mark Falvey and Diarmuid Lynch from Rathmore and Glenflesk respectively did try hard to keep the lead car in their sights but ultimately an overshoot on the Beallaghbeama stage cost them the chance to fight for victory.
Last year’s winners Paul Barrett, from Tyrone and his Isle of Man co-driver Paul McCann finished third in their Ford Escort Mk2 after a day long battle with Eoin Murphy and Anthony Nestor who were driving a Talbot Sunbeam.
Denis Cronin and Helen O’Sullivan returned to the sport after a long lay-off, the former Rally of Lakes winners drove a newly acquired Escort to seventh overall.
Pat Looney honoured a life-long ambition to compete in a BDA-powered Escort, and the Kilcummin man, with Tom Kelliher alongside finished 12th overall and first in class C5.
Tralee co-driver Tommy Commane returned to the sport after a three-year absence and successfully guided County Louth’s Phillip McCribben second in class C3 in a Ford Escort MK1. Donal O’Connor and Pat Cashman were second in that class.
The Modified section of the rally is always keenly contested.
Rob Duggan, co-driven on this occasion by his sister Tara, stole a march on rivals by going 16 seconds faster than anyone over Moll’s Gap to claim his second victory in as many years. Recent Kerry Winter Rally winner Gary Kiernan was second, some thirty seconds off Duggan’s hot pace at the finish.
Colin O’Donoghue, with co-driver Kieran O’Donoghue on board, was the sensation of the rally, driving in his first rally, his seeding of 101 defied his finishing position of sixth in a hired Escort.
Charlie Hickey, with John Mc Carthy (Currow) on board was eighth in the Rentokill sponsored Escort.
Charlie’s brother John finished 17th in another Escort.
Local crews Paudie O’Callaghan/Danny Murphy and Cyril Wharton /Helen Duggan were fourth and third in their respective classes.
