Declan Gallagher returns to take modified honours at Fastnet Rally

Declan Gallagher returned to action in winning fashion on Sunday, taking the modified honours at the Fastnet Rally in Cork.

The Milkman won class 14 and was sixth overall in the Starlet after the eight stages.

Gallagher scorched into the lead on the third stage, after which he held a 14-second advantage in his class.

By the close of business, his lead was just under 40 seconds.

The Ardara man had County Derry man Gavin Doherty on the pace notes.

It was Gallagher’s first time competing since the Donegal International Rally in June and just his third time out this year.

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At the Laois Heartlands Rally in early June, he was second.

The Fastnet Rally was won by Josh Moffatt and Keith Moriarty in the Hyundai i20 R5, with 7.4 seconds to spare on the VW Polo GTi R5 of Callum Devine and his navigator Noel O’Sullivan.

Buckless’ JF Shovelin, with Terence Furey from Mountcharles on the notes, was third in class 14 in an Escort Mk2.

The Frosses-Glenties pairing of Ryan MacHugh and Declan Boyle won class 2 in a Ford Fiesta Rally 4 while Letterkenny duo Seamus Browne and Oisin Gallagher - making his debut calling the notes - earning third place in the Junior Rally in the Honda Civic.