Keith Cronin shines in Moonraker Rally

Although victory in the Abbey Hotel Munster Moonraker Rally wasn’t the ultimate goal for Ballylickey’s Keith Cronin and his Killarney co-driver Mikie Galvin (Ford Fiesta R5), they secured a fine win with a measured and composed drive that provided the perfect preparation for their next outing in the British Rally Championship in three weeks time.

In dry, sunny but sometimes windy conditions they led through all eight stages in the Derrynasaggart Mountains and finished 20.6 seconds ahead of the Fiesta R5 of Monaghan’s Josh Moffett and co-driver Stephen Thornton, who took maximum points in the Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship.

The Fiesta WRC of Sam Moffett/James Fulton were just 4.3 seconds further behind in third and 5.8 ahead of last year’s event winners Desi Henry/Liam Moynihan (Skoda Fabia R5).