Monaghan's Josh Moffett wins Galway Summer Rally

Moffett finished 7.67s ahead of the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 of Donegal's Kevin Eves with Leitrim's Keelan Grogan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) 21.5s further behind in third.

Josh Moffett/Keith Moriarty (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) won the Galway Summer Rally that was based in Ballinasloe. Picture: Seamus Counihan.

Sun, 23 Aug, 2026 - 18:13

Martin Walsh

Monaghan's Josh Moffett (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) won the Ballinasloe based Galway Summer Rally where he finished 7.67s ahead of the Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 of Donegal's Kevin Eves with Leitrim's Keelan Grogan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) 21.5s further behind in third.

The opening stage was interrupted when Moffett's championship rival Shane Quinn (Ford Fiesta Rally2) endured a high spin that resulted in his retirement and the trio of Eves, Grogan and Cronin all being given Moffett's time.

Eves was best on SS2 to move into a 2.3s lead over Moffett, who punched in the quickest time on SS3 to cut the deficit to 1.8s. Grogan was third - 6.8s further behind 9.8s ahead of Cronin, who was experiencing some mechanical woes. Cavan's Aaron McIntyre (Toyota Starlet) led the two-wheel drive category and was fifth overall.

Out on the repeat loop Moffett won all three stages, reclaiming top spot on SS4 before going on to extend his advantage to 9.1s at the final service halt.

Eves gave away 5.9s on the fourth stage where, unlike Moffett, hadn't the benefit of the first run due to the Quinn incident, nevertheless, was "picking away" on SS5, Grogan in third reckoned it was difficult to judge the braking points while Cronin, a place behind was happy with his pace.

McIntyre continued to lead the modified category. The organisers didn't run two of the final loop of three stages as the top three was unchanged.

Meanwhile, in Saturday's R Kings Competitions Down Rally, Welsh driver Osian Pryce (Toyota Yaris GR Rally2) took a 35.4s victory over Omagh's Jason Dickson (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) with Clonakilty's Cal McCarthy (Citroen C3 Rally2) finishing third to secure a maiden rally podium.

Welsh driver Meirion Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) was the first casualty as he crashed on what transpired to be a very gravelly opening stage.

Pryce took an early 5.3s lead over Dickson with another Omagh driver Alan Smyth (VW Polo GTi R5) 12.1s further behind and 6.2s ahead of McCarthy.

As Pryce struggled with his Toyota, Dickson was best on SS2 and SS3 to edge 3.4s ahead with McCarthy moving into third after Smyth slid off on SS2.

Pryce with an improvement in his Toyota regained top spot and led by 4.3s at the final service. Dickson's Skoda suffered a front right wheel puncture near the end of SS5 having earlier overshot a junction.

McCarthy, with Sligo's Niall Burns on the pacenotes, stiffened his Citroen and was more committed as he cemented third spot to move 22.5s ahead of the Toyota GR Yaris of Welsh driver Jason Pritchard. The top three remained unchanged on the final pair of stages with Pryce taking the spoils from Dickson and McCarthy.

In motor racing and following two fine qualifying sessions on Saturday in Donington Park for round nine and ten of the Carwow Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, West Cork driver Michael Keohane (Century Motorsport) departed the Leicestershire circuit empty handed.

He qualified P4 (and P1 Masters) for yesterday's (Sunday) opening race and P9 and P2 Masters for the second race.

Keohane began from the second row of the grid and maintained maintained his position in an exciting race where, as expected his Century Motorsport team mate Callum Voisin led from the start, quickly opening a gap on Sid Smith (Graves Motorsport) with Will Jenkins (Team Parker Racing) third.

Keohane didn't feel out of place in fourth and by Lap 8 was 0.893s ahead of Max Coates (Graves Motorsport).

The West Cork driver withstood the challenge for several laps and seemed on course for a fine result, seemingly in the history of the series Master's class drivers were never before in such a position.

Then, on Lap 14 as he turned into the Melbourne Hairpin and defending his line, there was contact with the Porsche of Max Coates (Graves Motorsport) that spun Keohane's Porsche off the track.

Although Coates got back on track, he retired at the start of the next lap while Keohane, after returning to the pits, went on to finish the race and take apparently take third in the Master's category.

However, he was later disqualified as he was deemed by the clerk of course deemed he was responsible for the incident.

Voisin took the race win while Keohane's Century Motorsport team mate Henry Dawes took the spoils in the Master's category.

In the second race, there was further disappointment for Keohane, who was taken out by another competitor after the Melbourne Hairpin with his car hitting the tyre barrier with high impact. Voisin and Dawes completed doubles.

Galway Summer Rally (Round 6, Triton Showers National Rally Championship) Ballinasloe

1.J. Moffett/K. Moriarty (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 38m. 32.7s

2. K. Eves/C. Melly (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+7.6s

3. K. Grogan/A. Sherlock (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+29.1s

4. A. McIntyre/D. O'Brien (Toyota Starlet)+35.3s

5. D. Cronin/P. O'Donovan (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+54.8s

6. D. McKenna/A. Grennan (Ford Escort)+1m. 31.7s

8. B. McIntyre/A. McDonald (Toyota Starlet)+1m. 52.4s.

R Kings Competitions Down Rally, Banbridge

1. O. Pryce/J. Morgan (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 46m. 43.3s

2. J. Dickson/N. Shanks (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+35.4s

3. C. McCarthy/N. Burns (Citroen C3 Rally2)+1m. 14.3s