Donegal duo celebrate victory at Loughall Stages Rally

Donegal duo Aaron McLaughlin and Darren Curran won the Loughgall Stages Rally at the weekend.

The Inishowen pair took victory in the Ford Fiesta R5.

McLaughlin and Curran began with the number 1 on the door and they retained the title.

There was plenty of local interest here with Garry Jennings, partnered by Brian Hoey in the absence of Rory Kennedy, in the mix, and Aidan Wray close by.

McLaughlin and Curran had a good run at the Donegal International Rally last month, coming 22nd overall, and they were popping the champagne in County Antrim on Saturday.

Convoy brothers Daniel and Evan MacBride were 49th overall in the Civic with Brian Kelly and Justin McCauley 56th in a Fiesta.

At Sunday’s Ravens Rock Rally in Waterford, where there was a special tribute to Irish rallying star Craig Breen, who was tragically killed earlier this year while testing in Croatia, there was also a strong Donegal challenge.

Declan Boyle and Patrick McCrudden finished second overall in a Citroen C3 Rally 2, 42.4 seconds down on winners Josh Moffett and Keith Moriarty, who took victory in the Hyundai i20 R5.

Declan’s son Michael Boyle, with Dermot McCafferty on the notes, won class 5 and landed fourth overall in a VW Polo.

Another son, Matthew Boyle, was third in class 2 and 26th overall in a Fiesta.

Curran followed up his Loughgall win by partnering Chris Armstrong for tenth overall in an Escort while Convoy navigator Dean O’Sullivan called notes for Michael Carbin to finish 12th in an Evo 8.

Dungloe driver Patrick McHugh, this time with Enda Kennedy on the pace notes, was 14th in the standings in an Escort RS.

Veteran co-driver John McCafferty had a 17th place finish alongside Seamus Leonard in a Fiesta.

Ryan MacHugh, with Declan Boyle riding shotgun, won a very competitive class 2, gaining notable Triton National Rally Championship points for the Frosses-Glenties duo.