Donegal's Shane Byrne secures debut victory at Eakin Bros Maiden City Stages Rally

Bruckless native and navigator Shane Byrne triumphed in his debut rally win at the recent Eakin Bros Maiden City Stages Rally, teaming up with Derry driver Desi Henry.  

Together, they showcased an outstanding performance, dominating the competition by securing three stage victories out of six challenging stages. 

The rally unfolded as a fierce contest, with participants fiercely competing for valuable points in the Northern Ireland Rally Championship. Despite the intense rivalry, Byrne and Henry consistently maintained their lead throughout the event. 

Upon reaching the initial service interval, Henry and Byrne held a slim lead of 8.7 seconds over the previous year's champion, Johnny Greer, and his navigator Niall Burns from Letterkenny.  

Despite minor adjustments required for their Citroen C3 Rally 2 car's suspension, the duo encountered minimal issues in the early stages. 

Interestingly, Byrne and Henry had previously tasted success at the Maiden City Stages Rally. However, the latter part of the day posed fresh challenges as their vehicle developed a mechanical issue, causing a misfire. Despite the pressure from Callum Devine, the Irish Tarmac Champion, Byrne and Henry showcased unwavering determination, ultimately clinching victory with a 14.8-second lead. 

Donegal’s Michael Boyle alongside his co-driver Darragh Mullan finished in fourth position, while Donegal co-driver Paddy Robinson alongside Tyrone man Aidan Wray came sixth. 

Ballybofey’s Damien Tourish and Letterkenny’s Domhnall McAlaney finished seventh in their Ford Escort Mk II, while being closely followed behind by Frosses native Declan Boyle and Donegal Town man Liam McIntyre.