One of the most popular events in Irish rallying, the Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry is a perfect illustration of the current difficulties within Irish rallying.

Monaghan’s Josh Moffett (Ford Fiesta R5) and co-driver Emmet Sherry led from flagfall to win the Murroe based Lyons of Limerick Forest Rally the penultimate round of the Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship.

Irish rallying enjoyed one of its greatest days yesterday as Dungannon’s Kris Meeke and his Killarney co-driver Paul Nagle in the Abu Dhabi Total WRT-run Citroen DS3 WRC Paul Nagle won Rally Finland, round eight of the World Rally Championship.

A new dawn breaks for the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Rally Championship on its opening round, the Corrib Oil Galway International Rally, which gets under way tomorrow.

St Mary’s 1-11 Dublin IT 2-6 (AET): St Mary’s set up a Belfast derby quarter-final with 2016 Sigerson Cup hosts UUJ as they fought back to beat DIT in extra-time on Garvaghey’s 3G pitch.

As Conor Mortimer said earlier this week, the needle between Dublin and Mayo started back in 2006 with Warm-up-gate.

There was double delight for Donegal’s Donagh Kelly (Ford Focus WRC) as he clinched the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship with victory in the Todd’s Leap Ulster Rally in Enniskillen. 

On course for a top three finish in Rally Finland the Irish crew of Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle had their hopes dashed when they slid wide on a right hand bend, clipped a tree and damaged the front axle of their Citroen DS3 WRC during Saturday’s second leg.

Motorsport

With a commanding performance delivered with total commitment, Fermanagh’s Garry Jennings and his Letterkenny co-driver Rory Kennedy brought their Kumho backed S12B Subaru WRC to a strong victory in the Joule Donegal International Rally, round five of the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship.

The battle for supremacy in the Joule Donegal International Rally in Letterkenny is finely poised with just 3.2 seconds separating overnight leaders Fermanagh’s Garry Jennings (S12B Subaru WRC) and co-driver Rory Kennedy from the Ford Focus WRC of the Donegal/Derry partnership of Donagh Kelly/Kevin Flanagan. 

Antrim’s Derek McGarrity has secured his fifth Tour of Sperrins Rally win to extend his lead in the McGrady Insurance Northern Ireland Rally Championship.

Five-time Northern Ireland Rally champion Derek McGarrity S14 Subaru WRC heads the entry for tomorrow’s eight stage tarmac Ryan Bradley Memorial Tour of Sperrins Rally in Maghera, County Derry.

Although they led the Tralee-based Fels Point Circuit of Kerry Rally from the start, the Kerry/Cork duo of Alan Ring and Adrian Deasy in the Munster Joinery liveried S12B Subaru WRC had to push hard through the final stage to ensure victory.

Former Irish National and Tarmac Group N champion, Kerry’s Alan Ring, admits that it’s taking him time to adjust the power and pace of the Mel Evans S12B Subaru WRC. 

Two first-half goals against Armagh helped Tyrone into the Ulster U21 final for the first time in three years last night.

Motorsport: A spin midway through the final stage of Rally Sweden, the second round of the World Rally Championship denied the Irish pair of Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroen DS3 WRC) the opportunity of finishing sixth.

Brosna (Kerry) 0-10 Rock St Patrick’s (Tyrone) 1-7 (AET): AIB All-Ireland Club JFC semi-final: Brosna and Rock St Patrick’s must meet again to see who enjoys a St Valentine’s date in Croke Park.

Motorsport

Leader of the Carryduff Forklift Northern Ireland Rally Championship, Antrim’s Derek McGarrity (Subaru WRC) has dual targets in tomorrow’s Newry based Modern Tyre Service Mourne Rally.

Cookstown (Tyrone) 3-13Warrenpoint (Down) 1-11 (after extra-time)

The penultimate round of the Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship and the final round of the CarryduffForklift Northern Ireland Rally Championship dovetail on tomorrow’s Omagh-based McKelvey Bushwhacker Rally that has attracted 100 entries.

Competitors in the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship and the British Rally Championship will traverse the same stages under their respective banners of the Ulster Rally and Rally Northern Ireland this afternoon.

Wicklow star Ciarán Hyland is a doubt for the Garden County’s All-Ireland qualifier against Waterford on June 30 after sustaining an injury while supporting the Republic of Ireland in the European Championships.

The weekend events north and south of the border provide an interesting contrast.

Former captain Ronan McGarrity’s return to inter-county action and three goals from Jason Doherty were the big stories in Ballaghaderreen yesterday where Mayo trounced Westmeath in a challenge.

Knowing that every second counts, Midleton’s Daragh O’Riordan is favourite to win the Quality Hotels West Cork Rally this weekend.

SECOND place doesn’t sit that comfortably with Tim McNulty (Subaru WRC), yet, for more than two thirds of the Todds Leap Ulster Rally, it was a position he held.

ANTRIM’S Derek McGarrity (Subaru WRC) will begin today’s second and final leg of the Todds Leap Ulster Rally with a 19.3 second advantage over Tim McNulty (Subaru WRC), with Armagh’s Darren Gass, also in a Subaru WRC, a minute and five seconds further adrift in third.

Mayo manager James Horan is due to announce his team tonight for Sunday's Connacht SFC final against Roscommon at Dr Hyde Park.

TIME may be running out for Tim McNulty’s rivals to thwart his bid for the Dunlop National Rally Championship title.

ALTHOUGH Tim McNulty (Subaru WRC) and Alastair Fisher (Ford Fiesta S2000) each shared three fastest times over yesterday’s six stages of the opening leg of the Topaz Donegal International Rally, the former will take a 28.6 second lead in to today’s second leg of the Letterkenny-based rally, the fourth round of the Irish Tarmac Championship.

IT’S a case of experience against youth for the top two seeds in this weekend’s Donnelly Group/UTV Drive Circuit of Ireland Rally.

MAYO’S experienced midfielder Ronan McGarrity is rated as ‘very doubtful’ for Sunday’s Allianz Division 1 league match against All-Ireland champions Cork after injuring his leg in training.

Mayo 0-8 Kerry 1-9

THERE were very mixed emotions around both dressing-rooms in the aftermath of an entertaining, dramatic stalemate which unfolded under the floodlights at a rain-soaked McHale Park, Castlebar on Saturday night.

IT was a historic day for Irish rallying yesterday as the Welsh crew ofMel Evans/Patrick Walsh (Subaru) became the first overseas crew to win the Dunlop National Rally Championship.

NORWAY’s Petter Solberg and Irish co-driver, Chris Patterson begin today’s second stage of the Neste Oil Rally Finland in first position after setting the fastest time on last evening’s opening stage.

WITH the margin for error in both the Dunlop National Rally Championship and the Dulux Trade British series diminishing as both championships near conclusion, this weekend’s Dominic Quinn Body Repairs/Sligo Park Hotel Rally and Rally Isle of Man are of major significance to their respective title protagonists.

A MASSIVE clash in the last 15 minutes between captains, Trevor Mortimer and Charlie Harrison, epitomised the difference between their respective Mayo and Sligo sides on Saturday evening.

Sligo 0-15 Mayo 1-8

CORK manager Conor Counihan has called for greater consultation with players and managers when the GAA implement changes to their playing rules in future.