Clare crews do well

The opening round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel Rally, was won by the Kerry crew of Thomas Fitzmaurice/Fionn Foley (Subaru WRC).
In an absorbing tussle through all nine stages, they finished 17 seconds ahead of the Cork/Mayo combination of Brian O’Mahony/John Higgins, also in a Subaru WRC. Monaghan pair Niall Maguire and Enda Sherry (Subaru WRC), were third, 44 seconds further adrift.
The Group N category was won by Robert Barrable/Dermot O’Gorman (Skoda Fabia S2000) and Frank Kelly/Liam Brennan (Ford Escort) took victory in the Modified section.
Fitzmaurice (Subaru WRC) made a great start and punched in the best time on the opening stage – three seconds ahead of both Brian O’Mahony (Subaru WRC) and Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC), who tied for second. Robert Barrable (Skoda Fabia S2000) was fourth – eight seconds further behind and two ahead of the MG S2000 of Roy White. Colm Murphy (Subaru) held sixth overall.
Fitzmaurice also set the pace on the second stage while O’Mahony dominated the time sheets on the final stage of the loop.
Kerry’s PJ O’Dowd/John Young (Sunbeam) won the historic category and victory in the junior section went to Richard Moore/Richard Cleary (Honda Civic).
Clare Motor Club members who competed in the event included Grainne McEnery, who finished 10th overall and third in class 14 with Kerry’s Mike Quinn; Jane Cogan who finished 18th overall and third in Class 13 with Limerick driver Frank Sweeney; Jim Casey finished 34th overall with Paddy O’Reilly; Tony Tuttle/Sean Kiernan were 48th overall; George Whelan/Noel McMahon 55th overall; Michael Fitzgibbon/Tom Ryan 58th overall; Anthony Breen/James Kelly finished 62nd overall, third in Class 8 and Ciara O’Connell finished 65th overall and third in Class 10 with Kerry’s Eddie Kenneally.