Cronin and Galvin Ready for Cork Finale as Irish Tarmac Championship Goes Down to the Wire
Ardee News and Sport — This Sunday’s O’Connell Group Cork ‘20’ Rally will be the deciding round in the race for the 2024 Samdec Security Irish Tarmac Championship. Keith Cronin and Mikie Galvin, driving their M O’Brien Group of Companies/Lyons Motor Group/Shane Casey Electrical Services Ford Fiesta Rally 2, hold a narrow points lead as they battle it out with reigning champions Callum Devine and Noel O’Sullivan.
Cronin and Galvin are currently ahead by 15 points going into the final round. However, the championship’s “best five scores” rule makes the gap tighter, with both teams facing a high-stakes showdown.
The season has seen Cronin and Galvin claim three wins, including the Galway, West Cork, and Ulster rallies. A puncture cost them a near-certain victory at the Rally of the Lakes, where Devine and O’Sullivan took the win. Devine and O’Sullivan also triumphed in Donegal after Cronin and Galvin crashed out, but Cronin’s victory in the most recent Ulster Rally has placed him in the championship lead heading into Cork.
Despite their points advantage, Cronin remains cautious. “It sounds straightforward that we just need to shadow Callum and Noel, but it’s not that simple. We can’t be too relaxed because there are other competitors who could affect the outcome,” Cronin stated.
The Cork ‘20’ rally may take place in Cronin’s home county, but he doesn’t see this as giving him a significant advantage. “The stages are in Fermoy, about an hour and a half from me. It’s like rallying anywhere else. Callum won last year’s event, and this year’s stages are the same as 2023’s Sunday route, so he’ll have the benefit of last year’s notes,” Cronin added.
If Devine and O’Sullivan win, Cronin and Galvin must finish within two places of them to secure the championship. Should Devine win and Cronin finish second, a tie-breaker would be needed, with both teams having three wins and two second-place finishes. However, Cronin and Galvin would take the title based on their fourth-place result in Killarney. “The biggest threat to us is a non-finish,” Cronin admitted. “It’s a fine line between success and zero, as we’ve seen this season.”
While the championship fight will take center stage, other teams are eager to shake up the standings. Matt Edwards and David Moynihan, currently third in the points, will be looking to cap off their season with a strong finish. Josh Moffett and Andy Hayes are another formidable duo, expected to compete in a Citroen C3 or possibly return to their familiar Hyundai i20 R5.
Surprise additions to the Cork ‘20’ entry list include WRC2 competitors Josh McErlean and James Fulton, competing in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2. While McErlean is not registered for Tarmac points, his presence could still influence the overall rally results.
Meirion Evans and Ger Conway, who finished just 2.7 seconds behind Devine last year, will also be in contention for victory. “Josh and Meirion will both be tough competition, but we have to stay focused on our championship goal,” said Cronin.
The Cork ‘20’ Rally will feature eight stages, with the final two stages likely deciding the fate of the 2024 Irish Tarmac Championship. The first car is expected to cross the finish line just after 4 p.m. at the Corrin Events Centre, outside Rathcormac.
Top 10 Seeds:
1. Callum Devine/Noel O’Sullivan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2)
2. Keith Cronin/Mikie Galvin (Ford Fiesta MK II Rally 2)
3. Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes (Citroen C3 Rally 2)
4. Matt Edwards/David Moynihan (Ford Fiesta MK II Rally 2)
5. Josh McErlean/James Fulton (Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2)
6. Meirion Evans/Ger Conway (Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2)
7. Eddie Doherty/Tom Murphy (Skoda Fabia Rally 2)
8. Desi Henry/Shane Byrne (Citroen C3 Rally 2)
9. James Ford/Neil Shanks (Citroen C3 Rally 2)
10. Declan Boyle/Andy Hayes (Skoda Fabia Rally 2)
With the stakes as high as ever, this Sunday’s Cork ‘20’ Rally promises to deliver drama, excitement, and perhaps a crowning moment for Cronin and Galvin—or a successful title defense for Devine and O’Sullivan.