Murphy’s chance to make home work pay

A CASE of back to the forests for the title protagonists of this season’s Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship that resumes tomorrow after an extended break due to the cancellation of the fourth round in Donegal last month.

Although the top five drivers are covered by a 14-point margin, the form of the leading trio of Cashel’s Liam Ryan, Monaghan’s Vincent McAree and Ovens ace Owen Murphy would suggest they will be at the cutting edge in the Mallow-based Jim Walsh Cork Forest Rally.

Murphy, with victories in the opening two rounds, looked set for a unique hat-trick on the Tallow-based Moonraker Rally until his Mitsubishi overheated. His demise allowed Ryan and McAree gain ground, they now share the outright lead of the series, with Murphy 11 points behind in third.