Motorsport: Kelly and McCrudden take Mayo Rally spoils
The Donegal crew of David Kelly/Paddy McCrudden (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) pictured in the village of Aghagower went on win the West Tyre/Westport Woods Hotel & Spa Mayo Rally, the opening rounds of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship and the Top Part West Coast Rally Championship. Pic: Martin Walsh.
Despite the extremely wet and often challenging conditions, the West Tyre/Westport Woods Hotel & Spa Mayo Rally resulted in an exciting finish as the Donegal crew of David Kelly/Paddy McCrudden (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) took victory by a mere 0.1s from reigning national champions, Kilkenny's Eddie Doherty and his Limerick co-driver Tom Murphy.
Another all-Donegal crew, that of Matthew Boyle/Gary Byrne, took a late third place to complete a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 lock-out of the top three places.
Doherty posted the best time on the opening stage of the eight-round 2026 Triton series, albeit 1.3s quicker than former champion Josh Moffett (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), with Donegal's David Kelly a further 1.6s behind in third.
From fourth on the opener Donegal's Michael Boyle onboard a new Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, punched in the best time on SS2 that wound its way around the village of Aghagower at the beginning of its10.96km journey.
His strong performance promoted him into a 3.1s lead over Doherty; however, it all ended on SS3, the final stage of the loop, when his Skoda punctured a front wheel and whilst changing the wheel, the jack collapsed, and he decided to call it a day as he had haemorrhaged too much time.
Doherty arrived at the service park in Westport with a slender 1.2s lead over Kelly having traversed the three stages where conditions were dismal with rain adding to an already difficult challenge.
The Kilkenny driver reckoned the set-up of his new Skoda needed to be softened; like many more, it was crashing out over the big jumps on SS3.
Second-placed Kelly posted the best time on SS3, where he stated the grip levels were better than the two previous stages. Moffett - 4.3s off top spot added that the copious amounts of standing water was making his task harder.
Longford's Shane Quinn (Ford Fiesta Rally2) was an impressive fourth; he experienced a huge moment on SS3 after he took a wrong line over a crest. Meanwhile, Cathan McCourt (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) had issues with the pop-off valve that led to the car cutting out on several occasions, and a misted screen added to his woes.
Declan Boyle and his son Matthew were sixth and seventh respectively in a top ten that also included the Ford Fiesta Rally2's of Gary Kiernan and Ryan McHugh and the Skoda Fabia RS Rally of Kevin Eves, who switched from a Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Conditions deteriorated on the repeat loop by the end which Kelly had moved 5.6s ahead of Doherty, who has issues with the gear linkage; Moffett was 6.1s further behind in third. Indeed, it was the conditions that were uppermost on their minds, many querying the possibility of cancelling the final stage - a repeat of SS6.
Matthew Boyle was 10.1s quicker than the rest on SS6 to move into fourth. All the top drivers admitted that they backed off due to the dreadful conditions as the rain became incessant, particularly on SS6.
As it transpired, SS8 was the only stage of the final loop that was run, a decision (as a safety precaution) on SS9 was made before the cars departed the final service.
Doherty won SS8 that counted as the Power Stage as Kelly held on to win by a mere 0.1s. Matthew Boyle snatched third - just 0.1s ahead of Moffett.
Declan Boyle slid off on SS8. With the forthcoming West Cork Rally very much on their minds, Ballylickey's Daniel Cronin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) and Clonakilty's Cal McCarthy (Citroen C3 Rally2) both withdrew at the final service.
Meanwhile, Strabane's Niall McGonigle (VW Polio GTi R5) won the Samsonas Fivemiletown Rally - 19.3s ahead of the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 of Vivian Hamill with Carlow's David Condell, also in a Skoda, 20.6s further behind in third.
Top seed and last year's winner Mark Donnelly (VW Polo GTi R5) led by 4s after the opening stage only to slide his car off the road on the third corner of the second stage.
Monaghan's Derek Mackerel, who set the same time as McGonigle on SS2 was just 1.8s behind but he bowed out on SS3 where his Ford Fiesta R5 suffered mechanical issues that forced his retirement. McGonigle dominated the remainder of the event to finish ahead of Hamill and Condell.
1. D. Kelly/P. McCrudden (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 41m. 49.3s; 2. E. Doherty/T. Murphy (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+0.1s; 3. Matthew Boyle/G. Byrne (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+23.4s; 4. J. Moffett/K. Moriarty (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+24s; 5. S. Quinn/S. Reynolds (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+31.6; 6. C. McCourt/B. McNulty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+32.3s; 7. G. Kiernan/J. McCabe (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+39.2s; 8. J. Dickson/M. Brady (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+53.6s; 9. K. Eves/C. Melly (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+59.0s; 10 R.McHugh/D. Boyle (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 25.4s.
1.N. McGonigle/C. McKenna (VW Polo GTi R5) 26m. 57.3s; 2. V. Hamill/P. Robinson (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+19.3s; 3. D. Condell/M. Coady (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+39.9s; 4. C. Wilson/K. McDaid (Hyundai i20 Rally2)+1m. 28.6s; 5. A. Raftery/D. Kammersgaard (Ford Fiesta Rally3)+2m. 04.0s; 6. S. McGirr/D. Rafferty (Lada Riva)+2m. 14.7s; 7. M. Cairns/G. Doherty (VW Polo GTi R5)+2m. 15.7s; 8. D. Humphrey/D. McKenna (Mitsubishi Lancer E9)+2m. 35.5s; 9. P. Maguire/D. Kerr (Subaru Impreza)+2m. 41.4s; 10. O. Mallon/K. Hall (Skoda Fabia Rally2)+2m. 44.1s.
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