By Alan Gunn
FOR the second year in succession Dessie Keenan and Enda Sherry returned to the winning podium at the Hillgrove Hotel after clinching the Monaghan stages rally.
With both Niall Maguire and Patrick Elliot both fighting hard for National Championship points Tydavnet man Dessie Keenan knew it was going to take something special to hold them off.
“We knew we would have to push hard. Both Niall [Maguire] and Patrick [Elliott] are going very well in the National Championship. It was always going to be a struggle to stay ahead of them.”
Stay ahead of them they did despite a major scare on the last stage when the eventual winner almost saw they dream blow up.
“Once we got the puncture I couldn’t believe it. Going down into a five left there was stone on the inside of the corner on my line and I just hit it and that was it. I knew we had a minute over Niall so we had to watch out for him. Going through the stage we had to pull in to let Patrick past so we knew that was 30 seconds gone. If Niall had of caught us we knew that was the minute gone and the victory gone. We were lucky he never caught us.”
When the drivers woke up on Sunday morning they were greeted to a wet and miserable morning which left the opening stages difficult.
“In the race it was dry and then it was wet this morning so we had to be careful. We really put on a big charge on the third stage and went 21 seconds quicker then anybody so that helped us. The second loop around was very slippy so times were much slower but on the final loop it was dry again.”
Twelve months ago the pair sat in a Subaru WRC for the first time and they showed it was not beginners luck with another stunning drive again.
“It was great to get back into the car having not sat in it since last year and come out on top again.”
So what is next for the crew?
“I might try and get some sponsors together and try and do an international round in one of these cars.”
And without the sponsors Dessie would not have been able to achieve what he has in the last two years.
“Only for them we wouldn’t be in one of these types of cars.”
Of course it is not all about the man behind the wheel and Dessie is full of praise for his co-driver Enda Sherry.
“Brilliant job. He done a great job on the notes and everything went well.”
Dessie would like to thank his many sponsors for their support; The Squealing Pig; McCarron Civil Engineering; Enda Keenan Stainless Steel; Dunlop Tyres; The Gift Box, Cavan; Greenfoot; Jap-Cars, Dublin; Stainless Pipeline Supplies; Windy City Comforts; National Monitoring Services; Black Water Cottage; Hillgrove Hotel; Mc Mahons Spar, Scotstown; The Rock Inn, Tydavnet; Maurice Graham Builders Providers; McKenna Plant Hire, Oxford; Air Contracts
Top 10
1. Dessie Keenan/Enda Sherry – Subaru WRC – 1:20:37
2. Niall Maguire/Paul McLoughlin – Subaru WRC - 1:21:12
3. Patrick Elliott/Paul Goodman – S11 WRC – 1:21:13
4. Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty – Subaru Impreza – 1:21:35
5. Kevin Barrett/Sean Mullally – S11 WRC – 1:22:04
6. Gary McPhillips/Mary Tierney – Escort MK2 – 1:24:35
7. Rodney Wilton/Conor McMahon – Ford Escort – 1:24:51
8. Damien Gallagher/Paul Garry – Ford Escort – 1:25:03
9. Manus Kelly/Donal Barrett – Ford Escort – 1:25:16
10. Joe McHugh/Dermot McHugh – Ford Escort Cosworth – 1:25:19
How the locals finished
1st class 3 - Stephen Wright/Peter O’Toole – Ford Fiesta
4th class 4 – David Wright/ John Henderson - Evo 9
8th class 4 -Cathal McGlone/Damien Doherty – Subaru Impreza
12th class 4 - Eamonn McElvaney/Alan Keena - Subaru N10.
1st class 5 - Eamon McCafferty/ Emmet Sherry – Ford Puma
2nd class 6 – Martin Tynan/Ciaran Tynan - Citroen C2R2.
4th class 6 - Barry Evans/David Lyons – Citroen C2R2
6th class 6 - Jonathan McKenna/Greg O’Reilly – Peugeot 106
7th class 6 - Ian McCarey/Kevin McCarey – Peugeot 106
8th class 6 - David Smith/Christopher Brennan – Peugeot 106
9th class 6 - Austin Hamill/Aidan Sherlock – peugeoy 106
10th class 6 - Thomas Smyth/Daniel O’Reilly - Citroen Saxo
4th class 7 – Michael McMahon/Martin McKenna - Peugeot 206
1st class 9 – Noel Lappin/Matthew McKenna - Ford Escort Mark II
1st class 10 – John Kelly/Prionsias McKenna
2nd class 10 - Adrian Fox/Ciaran McPhillips – Ford Escort
5th class 10 - Aaron McQuaid/Barry McGill – Ford Escort
6th class 10 - Sean Sherry/Conor McGinnity – Ford Escort
7th class 10 - Laurence Sherry/Darren McCague
8th class 10 - Shane Maguire/Nicola McKenna – Peugeot 205
1st class 11 – Raymond Conlon/James O’Reilly - Toyota Corolla
3rd class 11 - Jim McKenna/Thomas Treanor – Toyota Starlet
4th class 11 - Anthony Hand/Stephen Thornton – Escort Mk 2
7th class 11 - Cian Curley/Gary McKenna - Toyota Corolla
10th class 11 - Martin McGuigan/Gerard Tierney – Toyota Corolla
11th class 11 - Martin McPhillips/Fergal McEntee - Toyota Corolla
1st class 12 - Daniel McKenna/Andrew Grennan - Mk II Escort
2nd class 12 - James Cassidy/Noel Hall – Ford Escort
3rd class 12 - Arthur Kierans/Conor Foley Ford Escort
5th class 12 – James Cullney/Fintan McGorman – Ford Escort
6th class 12 - Gerry Smyth/Gregory McQuillan – Ford Escort
7th class 12 - Gerard Corey/Kevin Treanor – Ford Escort
3rd class 13 –Brian Armstrong/Dominic McArdle – Ford Escort
5th class 13 - Garret McCullagh/Hugh Michael McKenna – Ford Escort
6th class 13 - Mac McKenna/John Loughran – Peugeot 205
8th class 13 - Michael Conlon/Aidan Boyle – Escort MK2
9th class 13 - Brain McKenna/Stephen Tierney Ford Escort
11th class 13 - Shane McEnaneny/Graham Kelly – Escort MK2
1st class 14 –Gary McPhillips/Mark Tierney – Escort MK 2
2nd class 14 - Rodney Wilton/Conor McMahon – Ford Escort
4th class 14 - Gerry Cassidy/Paul Sheridan – Ford Escort G3
5th class 14 - Maurice Moffett/Jason McKenna – Toyota Starlet
7th class 14 - John Gerard Hughes/Sean Walsh – Ford Escort
8th class 14 - Paddy Reilly/Declan Neville – Ford Escort
9th class 14 - Michael Carbin/Sean Carbin - G3 Escort
3rd class 15 – Andrew Mackarel/Richard Cassidy - Mitsubishi Evo 4
Junior Section
1 Peter Wilson/Declan Gallagher - Honda Civic – 50:57
2 John McQuaid/David Smyth – Ford Escort – 50:59
3 Gerard McQuaid/Gary Quinlan – Ford Escort – 51:47
4 Richard Moffett/Laura Moffett – Toyota Starlet 52:23
Female driver Claire McAree and Damien Babington finished 11th overall.
Thank You
Clerk of the Course, Conor Maguire would like to extend his sincere appreciation to all those who assisted him with the many months of preparation that went into Monaghan’s largest sporting event. The dedication, commitment and professionalism of the rally marshals on the stages were very evident as they controlled the large numbers of spectators at every junction. Doctors, Ambulance, Civil Defence, Irish Red Cross and Rescue crews are commended for their efforts during the event. An Garda Siochana played a vital role in the rally proceedings and must be greatly thanked for keeping the steady flow of traffic moving at all locations eliminating any opportunities for congestion.
Monaghan Motor Club wishes to thank the many residents along the route for their support and assistance making this event one of the most enjoyable in the country. Thanks to Monaghan County Council, the roads were in great condition and were praised by drivers from around the country. The club also greatly appreciate the support received from Monaghan Town Council, Kieran McMahon Tyres, HPE, the residents and property owners in the vicinity of the service area in the town car park. A special thanks to Colm and Audri Herron who on behalf of the Hillgrove Hotel provided an excellent backdrop and fantastic facility for this important sporting event.
