Wall and Kelly blitz rivals on final stage

BLITZING the opposition with a superb run through the third and final stage, Wexford’s Liam Wall and co driver Tommy Kelly (Ford Escort) took a dramatic last stage win on the Cooney Engineering/Esso Tipperary Rally.

Trailing leaders Seamus Murphy/Graham Kelly (Escort), they came back to win by 13 seconds. It was the first rally win for Wall, 35, from Fethard on Sea. The consistent Enda O'Brien/John Butler, also in an Escort, were third, a further seven seconds in arrears and six ahead of Andrew Purcell/John Purcell's Honda Civic.

Just a second separated the Escorts of Eamonn Murphy and Liam Wall after the first run through the stage near Ardfinnan . A broken drive-shaft on the reconnaissance run meant an early retirement for top seed David Percy (Escort).