Ryan MacHugh takes superb class win at Galway International Rally

Ryan MacHugh picked up where 2022 ended as the Frosses man won his class at the Galway International Rally.

MacHugh, with Declan Boyle on the notes in the Ford Fiesta Rally 4, took the RC4 category.

The south Donegal duo had 4.2 seconds to spare on Keelan Grogan and Ayrton Sherlock, who had led by 3.8 seconds overnight following the first eight stages on Saturday.

MacHugh was a nominee for the Billy Coleman Award in 2023 when he was crowned Class 2 Triton Showers National Rally champion. In 2022, MacHugh won the Junior event at the Donegal International Rally.

The superb drive by MacHugh and Boyle saw them finish 15th in the overall standings with Donegal crews performing well out west as the 2024 season got off to a rip-roaring start.

Creeslough’s Jason Wilkinson won the Junior section. With Danny Cannon from Carrigart as co-driver, their Civic won from the Roscommon pair Eoin Kelly and Darragh Kelly while the all-Donegal partnership of Ronan Dorian and Jason Tease Civic came third.

After the 14 stages and 240km, Keith Cronin won in the M-Sport built Ford Fiesta Rally 2. Cronin and Mikie Galvin - who won the championship in 2016 - made an excellent return to the Irish asphalt to win in style.

Cronin and Galvin had 38.1 seconds to spare on Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan in the VW Polo.

Glenties’ Declan Boyle was fourth while Donegal pair David Kelly and Dean O’Sullivan had a fine run for fifth in their VW Polo.

Donegal team Michael Boyle and Dermot McCafferty were eighth while Muff’s Joe McGonigle was ninth.

Mountcharles’ Joseph Kelly, in a Peugeot 208 was third in the RC4 category and 21st overall. Monaghan’s Killian McArdle was the navigator alongside Kelly while JF Shovelin from Bruckless was 20th in a MK2 Escort.