Donagh Kelly and Conor Foley won opening round of the 2020 Triton Showers National Rally Championship.

For seven of the nine stages, reigning Triton Showers National Rally champions Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes looked set for a comfortable victory in this year’s opening round, the TF Royal Hotel Mayo Stages Rally in Castlebar, to give them the best possible start in their title defence.

However, on the eighth stage, problems slowed their Hyundai and second placed Donagh Kelly and Conor Foley reduced the lead from 21 seconds to just nine. When Moffett was then unable to contest the final stage, the Donegal driver took a surprise last moment win in his Polo, 31 seconds ahead of the Fiesta of Roy White and James O’Brien.

Another former National title holder, Peadar Hurson, held third position starting the final loop but his Fiesta WRC crashed heavily on the penultimate test and he, too, was a late retirement. Cavan’s Gary Kiernan/Ryan Moore brought their two wheel drive Escort home in third place after a day-long duel with the similar car of former Scottish champion David Bogie, with just four seconds separating them.