David Bogie catches Paddy McVeigh late on
Having posted fastest times on all the stages prior to the final loop McVeigh led by 22.9 seconds.
With two stages remaining the margin remained the same as the seventh stage was cancelled on safety grounds. Bogie, on a shakedown for the forthcoming Circuit of Ireland Rally, then reeled in his opponent to win by 4.6 seconds.
Cavan’s Chris Armstrong (Escort) was a further 43 seconds behind in third.
McVeigh was quickest on the opening stage albeit 1.8 seconds ahead of Bogie, who clipped a chicane and broke the wing mirror of his Skoda Fabia R5.
Stronger gains on the remaining two stages of the loop allowed an untroubled McVeigh stretch his advantage to 17.9 seconds with Bogie still best of the rest in second spot.
Keeping a good tempo through the repeat loop McVeigh was 4.5 seconds ahead of Bogie on S.S. 4 and a fraction of a second on the fifth stage to move 22.9 seconds clear of the Scottish driver, the sixth stage was cancelled as the emergency services were not back in place following an accident on the previous (S.S. 3) run.
Armstrong retained third but his Escort had developed a problem with the rear drive shaft.
Kiernan posted a strong time on S.S. 4 to move back into fourth albeit a fraction of a second ahead of Hamill, he was quickest of the pair through the fifth stage to edge 1.1 seconds ahead of the Tyrone driver.
Stephen McCann, Pauric Duffy and Tommy Doyle were next on the leaderboard, the latter had trouble with brakes and overshot on two separate occasions through S.S. 5.
The organisers were forced to cancel the first stage of the final loop (S.S.7) when spectators failed to obey instructions.
Having made changes to the set-up of his Skoda Fabia R5 at the final service, Bogey was quickest through the penultimate stage and reduced the deficit to 15.7 seconds.
Armstrong continued to hold third with Kiernan and Hamill rounding off an unchanged quintet.
On a dramatic final stage Bogie took a remarkable 20.3 seconds out of McVeigh to win by 4.3 seconds. Armstrong netted third and was followed by the Escorts of Kiernan and Hamill with Duffy’s Fiesta R5 sixth. The Group N category was won by Carrick on Shannon’s Sean Gallagher (Mitsubishi).
