Cronin and Galvin Crowned 2024 Irish Tarmac Rally Champions in Dramatic Cork Finale
Ardee News and Sport — Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin have clinched the 2024 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship after a tense and rain-soaked Cork ‘20’ Rally, the final round of the series. Despite finishing second in their M O’Brien Group of Companies/Lyons Motor Group/Shane Casey Electrical Services Ford Fiesta Rally 2, the result was enough for Cronin and Galvin to secure the championship title in a tie-breaker over their closest rivals, Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan.
The Cork ‘20’ Rally, held in treacherous conditions in the Fermoy region, saw relentless rain hamper the stages throughout the day. Devine and O’Sullivan, driving a Skoda Fabia, took the early lead on stage one, but Cronin and Galvin responded quickly, moving ahead on the second stage. However, the advantage swung back to Devine on stage three, where it remained for the rest of the shortened event.
With Cronin and Galvin needing only a second-place finish to claim the Tarmac Championship, they wisely opted to maintain a steady pace rather than take unnecessary risks in the wet conditions. Rally organizers, the Munster Car Club, ultimately declared the event results after the fifth stage due to the deteriorating weather, shortening the planned eight-stage rally.
Both Cronin and Devine ended the series with 100 points each, but Cronin and Galvin were awarded the championship on a tie-breaker, thanks to their consistency and early-season successes.
Cronin and Galvin’s championship campaign was built on victories in the opening rounds in Galway and West Cork. A second-place finish on the Circuit of Ireland kept them in contention, but their momentum faltered with a puncture on the Rally of the Lakes and an off in Donegal. However, a crucial victory on the Ulster Rally put them back in the title hunt heading into Cork, where they knew that finishing second behind Devine would be enough to secure the title.
Meanwhile, Matt Edwards and David Moynihan took third place in both the Cork ‘20’ Rally and the overall championship in another Ford Fiesta Rally 2. Josh McErlean and James Fulton finished fourth in Cork as they prepared for their upcoming World Rally Championship appearance in the Central European Rally.
Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin’s success was supported by M Group of Companies, Lyons Motor Group, Shane Casey Electrical Services, Molson Equipment, Pirelli, EARS Motorsport Ireland, Cronin’s Centra, Cronin’s HomeValue Hardware, Westlink Service Station, Cremin Coaches, Keohane Seafoods, M-Sport, and Wurth Ireland. Their Ford Fiesta Rally 2 was expertly prepared by Tom Gahan Motorsport, ensuring they had the machinery to compete at the highest level throughout the season.
With their latest triumph, Cronin and Galvin have once again solidified their place as one of the most formidable partnerships in Irish rallying history.