Day 1
Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan held a 22-second overnight lead after Killarney Rally of the Lakes’ eight stages on Saturday.
The two-time Rally of the Lakes winners were second for most of Saturday after Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin stormed into a 33.5-second after six stages.
Cronin was untouchable. Setting five fastest times on the bounce that included a stunning 18.2-second stage win on the first assault on Ardgroom.
A nick to Cronin’s front-left tyre on the second running of Ardgroom, stage seven, resulted in a slow puncture, costing him the rally lead and over two minutes to his rivals.
The Galway and West Cork Rally winner jumped back onto stage-winning pace on Saturday’s final Kilmakilloge test to climb into fifth overall, one minute and 42 seconds behind rally leader Devine.
Eddie Doherty and Tom Murphy completed Rally of the Lakes’ opening day in third overall, 13.5 seconds behind Edwards. Doherty was in fine form, continuing to show his promise in his rookie year in Rally2 machinery.
Day 2
Devine & O’Sullivan kept their cool from a charging Matt Edwards and David Moynihan to win their third win at Killarney and most importantly their first win in this seasons Irish Tarmac Championship.
It was who Cronin was fastest out of the blocks on Sunday morning to take nine seconds out of fourth placed Greer. How high can he climb up the leaderboard today after suffering a puncture on Day 1?
At Sunday’s halfway point Devine continued to lead as Jonny Greer suffered a rear punctured on the same stage which put Cronin into fourth.
Matt Edwards then takes three seconds out of Callum Devine’s lead on Gortnagane. 10 seconds between them with two stages left.
Another mighty stage win for Keith Cronin has edged him closer to Eddie Doherty’s final spot on the podium. Unfortunately, sixth placed Cathan McCourt slipped off the road on Gortnagane.
In the end it wasn’t enough with Devine winning the event to give them a well deserved confidence boost for next month’s Donegal International Rally.
He finished nearly 8 seconds ahead of Edwards with Doherty fending off the challenge from Cronin to take third. Colin O’Donoghue & Kieran O’Donoghue take the modified win in their MK2 Escort and 12th overall with Ioan Lloyd & Sion Williams claiming FWD honours in the Peugeot 208 and 13th overall.
