Killarney co-driver Ger Conway guided Donegal’s Declan Gallagher to overall victory at the Germaine’s Hotel GSMC Baltinglass Mini Stages Rally, securing back-to-back wins on the event for the Ardara driver.
The victory brought a full-circle moment for Gallagher, whose previous win on the Wicklow event in 2024 came alongside another Kerry co-driver, John McCarthy.
Gallagher and Conway brought their Toyota Starlet RWD to the finish with 14.8 seconds in hand over Mayo-Roscommon pairing Brian Lavelle and Jack Kelly (Ford Escort RS), who had led earlier in the day.
The opening loop proved drama-filled across the board. Gallagher set the initial pace on stage one despite concerns over fluid leaking into the footwell, before Lavelle took the lead on stage two when Gallagher’s crew lost time. Stage three was subsequently stopped following an incident and stage four was cancelled, forcing crews back to service in Baltinglass ahead of a final two-stage push.
On stage five, Gallagher and Conway reclaimed the lead with a time under the bogey limit, taking a 7.4-second advantage into the deciding test, Rustyduff. They held their nerve through the final test to secure top spot.
Behind the lead duel, Johno Doogan and Paul Lennon held off Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy driver Craig Rahill and co-driver Conor Smith (Ford Fiesta Rally3) to finish third overall by 6.1 seconds, despite hitting a chicane late on. Rally Academy member Cian Caldwell and co-driver Coel Leonard completed the top five in another Fiesta Rally3.
Kingdom crews deliver strong performances across the classes
Beyond Conway’s victory at the sharp end, a large Kerry contingent produced plenty of talking points across the Wicklow lanes.
Conor Murphy and Sean Collins brought their Ford Escort Mk2 home in ninth overall and fourth in Class 14, stopping the clocks at 45:44.4 despite a misfiring engine on stage three hampering their mid-event progress.
Four places further back, Denis Hickey and Denis O’Leary took 13th overall and fifth in Class 14 in another Escort Mk2 (46:20.8). The outing marked their first event together on Irish soil following their debut partnership in Belgium back in September.
Kenmare driver Vincent O’Shea paired up with Galway co-driver Aidan Bourke for the first time in his Darrian T90 GTR. O’Shea ran the overall order during the morning before eventually falling back to 17th overall and seventh in Class 14 with a time of 46:37.4.
Kerry Motorsport News supported co-driver Daniel Seaman celebrated class honours alongside Ryan Caldwell in a Peugeot 208 R2. The pairing recorded 33rd overall and first in Class 2A (47:38.2), marking their first time teaming up and securing Seaman’s second class victory in as many weeks.
Father-and-son duo Willie Power and John Power brought their Darrian T90 GTR to the finish in 40th overall and 11th in Class 13, recording a time of 48:06.0.
Using the event as vital seat time ahead of the upcoming Killarney Historic Rally, Fergus O’Meara and Cork navigator Anthony O’Sullivan guided their BMW M3 to fifth in Class 19 (48:07.3).
Sean Hartnett took full advantage of a late call-up off the reserve list, steering his Ford Escort Mk2 to 45th overall and 14th in Class 13 (48:12.1).
Mark Falvey and Grace O’Brien also focused on Killarney preparation, bringing their Historic-spec Ford Escort RS1600 home in 53rd overall and seventh in Class 19 with a time of 48:44.3.
Mike Costello and Paddy Costello made the most of their late entry off the reserve list, securing a podium spot with 55th overall and second in Class 11R in their Escort Mk2 (48:44.9).
Tadhg O’Sullivan joined forces with Galway’s Frank Byrnes in an Escort Mk2, claiming 58th overall and 11th in Class 14 (48:54.0).
Raymond O’Neill and Stephen Buckley paired up for the first time, finishing 69th overall and 16th in Class 13 in their Escort Mk2 (49:33.2), directly ahead of brothers Michael (Ray) Stack and Gene Stack, who took 71st overall and 17th in Class 13 in a similar machine (49:38.9).
Co-driver Maurice McElligott partnered Mike Reddy to fifth in Class 12 in an Escort Mk2 (49:43.5).
An all-Kerry crew teamed up for the first time as Colin O’Meara and Sean Nolan campaigned a Historic-spec Ford Escort RS1800,third in Class 18 (50:13.7).
Right behind them, Gearóid O’Regan and PJ Maloney brought a brand-new Escort Mk2 out for its debut event, seventh in Class 12 (50:16.5).
Comeback,co-driver Tony Healy guided Peter Lennon’s Escort Mk2 to 87th overall and 20th in Class 13 (50:54.0).
Killarney native Kieran Murphy, now based in Kilkenny, drove his Group N Subaru Impreza alongside Ann Hutchinson to second in Class 15 (52:05.2).
First-time partnership Brendan Brosnan and Anthony McCarthy brought their Ford Escort Mk2 home fifth in Class 18 (53:57.0).
Donie O’Sullivan and Joe O’Leary focused entirely on gaining valuable mileage for the upcoming Killarney Historic Rally in their BMW M3, completing the event ighth in Class 19.
Several Kerry crews suffered early retirements, including Mike Quinn and Kieran Doherty, Todd Falvey and Iarla McCarthy, Anthony Cullinane and Jason O’Connor, and Ger O’Brien alongside John Liston.
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