WHAT appeared to be a cracking entry for Sunday’s Kilkenny-based Suirway Farm Machinery Raven’s Rock Rally, the fifth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, has been decimated by a series of withdrawals.

THE final round of this season’s Dunlop National Rally Championship, the Fastnet Rally, has a new base and headquarters at the Westlodge Hotel in Bantry.

A LATE entry from Armagh’s Darren Gass (Subaru WRC) has added extra spice to Sunday’s Carlton Hotel Circuit of Kerry Rally in Tralee, the second round of the Top Part West Coast Championship.

DEREK McGARRITY could be forgiven for having a sense of déjà vu this weekend as he goes from one circuit to another.

YOUNG guns, Keith Cronin, 23, and Craig Breen, 20, represent the changing demographic of Irish rallying as the Citroen Irish Tarmac Championship gets underway tomorrow with the Safety Direct Galway International Rally.

ROUNDS of the Irish Tarmac, National and British Rally Championships take centre stage over three days beginning today with the former and the latter dovetailing on the Rally Isle of Man International.

Monaghan's, Niall Maguire (Subaru WRC), co-driven by Enda Sherry took their first maximum score in a round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship when they took a final stage win on the Adare based Circuit of Munster Rally (Round 4) today.

Patrick Elliott, driving a Subaru WRC, has today won the Clonmel-based Sepam Tipperary Stonethrowers Rally, the seventh round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

Setting the pace on the first of today’s eight stages, Cavan’s, Patrick Elliott (Subaru WRC), who was co-driven by Paul Goodman, won the Circuit of Munster Rally, the fifth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

The following is the Leinster 'A' team to play Connacht in Barnhall on Friday (KO: 2pm):

WITH three different leaders after each of the opening three rounds, the Dunlop National Rally Championship is shaping up to be an intriguing contest.

Fastest on all three timed runs, Sean Gallagher/Enda Sherry (Escort Cosworth) were comfortable winners of the Banna Beach Hotel/Kingdom Fast Fit Kerry Single Stage Rally.