Eugene Donnelly and co-driver Paddy Toner seized their opportunity as they claimed victory in the Galway International rally.
 
Driving their McGeehan Motorsport prepared Skoda Fabia, they kept themselves in contention, and were able to profit when their main rivals ran into difficulties.

Although he wasn't the quickest through the first day, his time came when Eamonn Boland and then Kevin Lynch had troubles with their Subarus, and the four-time Irish champion was right there to take advantage.

It was not the difficult and wet stages that proved the undoing of Eamonn Boland, the current champion, who, in his Subaru Impreza, had led comfortably after the first day. The County Wexford driver was all set for victory yesterday when his NVD sponsored Subaru stopped on the road section between stages 10 and 11, putting him out with a blown engine.

Boland's retirement elevated the Impreza of Kevin Lynch into the lead, but he too failed to finish as his electrics failed at Ballybuck.

Donnelly led Hurson by nearly one and a half minutes at that point, and he was able to retain that lead over the remaining four stages to claim the opening win of the season.

Gareth McHale, in the Tom Hogan Motors backed Focus WRC, had an up and down day, with many minor problems, but had a great run to set a string of fastest times and take second place.

Peadar Hurson brought his Subaru into 3rd place.

'We stayed out of trouble and every stage we learned something new' said Donnelly. 'The last stage was a real challenge- we were spinning all four wheels in 5th gear on the ice. It was a great feeling to be competitive again in this wee car which is not so young.

'We lost time yesterday with the puncture and the accident but overall we were going well. The team did a great job as did the organisers and the marshals out in the cold'.

In Group N there was a titanic battle towards the end between Sean Flanagan and Anthony O'Halloran. Sean Flanagan was ahead by just under three seconds going into the final stage, but O'Halloran pulled out all the stops to record a time almost nine seconds faster than his rival to take victory.
 

Press release by RTE.ie
 
1st (5)    Eugene Donnelly/Paddy Toner (Fabia WRC)      2.00.47.8
2nd (4)    Gareth MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC)      2.02.02.4
3rd (9)    Peadar Hurson/Damian Connolly (Impreza WRC)  2.02.31.0
4th (10)   Aaron MacHale/Barry Goodman (Focus WRC)      2.02.55.1
5th (21)   Anthony O'Halloran/Charlie McEnery(Lancer N) 2.10.46.3
6th (22)   Sean Flanagan/Brian Duggan (Impreza N)       2.10.51.1
7th (44)   Tommy Doyle/Tony McDaid (Clio)               2.14.02.3
8th (20)   Mike Bird/Kevin Keane (Impreza WRC)          2.14.24.1
9th (46)   Ger O’Donovan/Sean Hayde (Impreza N)         2.14.55.8
10th (70)  Craig Breen/Andrew Purcell (Fiesta)          2.17.25.8