MOTOR SPORT: Niall Maguire of Monaghan has had two successful rally outings already this year. The Subaru driver followed up victory on the Mayo Stages with a fifth place on the Circuit of Ireland.
Maguire won the National Rally championship in 1999 and has been runner-up to John Gilleece and Paul Harris. The championship leader is seeded number two in Sunday's Circuit of Kerry behind Donegal's Paul Harris, the reigning champion and winner of this event two years ago.
Harris retired from the opening round in Mayo as his Subaru Impreza suffered suspension trouble which seriously affected the handling on the bumpy stages.
He didn't get an entry for the over-subscribed Monaghan event on April 21st, and now must not let Maguire build up a strong early lead in the Dunlop Championship.
Michael Barrable (Dublin) is expected to be on the pace in his second outing in his Impreza as also will David Armstrong in his Ford Escort Cosworth.
Liam O'Callaghan (Kanturk) makes a return to rallying after three years and is seeded number five in a Subaru Impreza ahead of Tim McNulty (Meath), James Harrison (Macclesfield) and Patrick Elliott (Cavan), also in Imprezas.
Donal Donovan (Cork) in a Toyota Celica, Kieran Shaw (Derry) in an Escort WRC and Opel Manta drivers Ed Synan (Shanagolden) and Anthony O'Halloran (Clare) complete the top 12 of the 151-strong entry.The rally has attracted the biggest local entry in years with over 30 Kerry crews listed, who will compete for the specially commissioned James O'Rourke Trophy in memory of the Kerry Motor Club member who died tragically in January.
Rally HQ is the Smerwick Harbour Hotel in Ballyferriter on the Dingle Peninsula, where the 4x2 stages are located, at Minard Castle, Conor pass, Slea Head and Bandon Creek.
Tomorrow's 77th Patland Cup Trial is the final round of the All-Ireland Motorcycle Trials Championship. The grade leaders are: Robert Crawford (A), Harold McQuade (B), Sam McCallion (C), Roy Adamson (D), Shaun Turkington (Junior A) and Ian Scott (Junior B).
Top six overall are: Robert Crawford 140 points; Andrew Perry 113; Michael Burton 73; Gareth Andrews 65; Brian Mcloughlin 49; Gordon Clarke 48.
The traditional venue for the "Patland" is the Sugar Loaf-Rocky Valley area near Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow (11 a.m. start).
WEEKEND FIXTURES - Saturday: Leinster MC Patland Cup trial, Rocky Valley, Kilmacanogue, 11.0; IKC kart racing, Mondello Park, 11.0; Dundalk MCC Motocross, Lurgankeel, Kilcurry, Co Louth, 11.30; MEC Sporting Trial, Ballyward, Kilbride, Co Wicklow, 12.30; Munster MC & CC, Navigation Trial, starts Coolcower House, Macroom, 11.45. Sunday: Kerry MC Circuit of Kerry, starts Smerwick Harbour Hotel (4 miles West of Dingle) 11.0; IKC kart racing, Mondello Park,11.0; Dundalk MCC Motocross, Lurgankeel, Kilcurry, Co Louth, 11.30.
