IN a keenly-contested event, the pursuit for victory in the Westlodge Hotel Fastnet Rally went down to the eighth and final stage.

Donegal's Michael Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) took the spoils and finished 18.6 seconds ahead of local driver Daniel Cronin (Citroen C3 Rally2) with the winner's younger brother, Matthew Boyle (Ford Fiesta Rally2), 7.2 seconds further behind in third.

Cronin, seeded sixth on the road, was the early rally leader until Michael Boyle moved ahead on the second stage. While his lead fluctuated throughout the day, he took his third straight rally win following victories in the Wexford Rally and the more recent Cork '20' Rally to claim his first-ever victory in a round of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship.

For Cronin, it was his best finish of the year. This was a confidence-booster and a return to the form he's shown in recent seasons.

Clonakilty's David Guest (right) and Bandon's Stephen Quinn finished sixth overall, and third in Class 5.

There were also good performances for a number of other local drivers.  Clonakilty's Cal McCarthy (Citroen C3 Rally2) and Rosscarbery's Eric Calnan were the highest-placed West Cork crew, finishing a fine fourth overall – their best result of the year. In addition, they also won the Jimmy Healy Memorial Award for the best Skibbereen and District Car Club crew and took first in Class 5.

Clonakilty's David Guest and Bandon's Stephen Quin finished sixth overall and third in Class 5. Barryroe co-driver Dylan Doonan won the Michael O'Riordan Memorial Award for the best placed Skibbereen and District Car Club co-driver – he partnered Tyrone's Barry Morris (Darrian T90 GTR) to eighth place and winners of Class 14. Dunmanway's Jason McSweeney (Ford Fiesta Rally2) was the fourth West Cork driver to finish inside the top ten, partnered by Wexford's John McGrath; he finished ninth overall.

The West Cork crew of Kilcrohane's Jer O'Donovan (Ford Fiesta R5) and Rosscarbery's Alistair Wyllie were the only other locals to secure a top 20 finish, they were 20th of the 113 finishers.

In the various classes, Rossmore's Seamus O'Donovan (Honda Civic) and Dunmanway's Daniel O'Donovan won Class 1. Skibbereen's Patrick Calnan (Honda Civic) and his Leap co-driver Amy Gallwey were the victors in Class 3. Drimoleague's Gary Nolan (Honda Civic) and Dunmanway's Alan O'Farrell came out best in Class 9, winning the Clancy Brothers Award. In Class 11R, Lyre's Tim O'Donovan (Toyota Corolla) and Rossmore's Vinny Bennett were another local class-winning crew. Bantry's Noel Hurley (Mitsubishi Lancer E4) and co-driver Mathew Byrne took victory in Class 15.

Lyre's Tim O'Donovan (Toyota Corolla) and Rossmore's Vinny Bennett came out best in Class 11R.

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The opening stage, Nowen Hill, that started close to Dunmanway, provided drama when the top seed, Donegal's Declan Boyle, rolled his Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 that came to rest on its side. His son, Michael, also in a Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, was the first car on the scene and was waived ahead by his father. Daniel Cronin set the fastest time and was 0.8 seconds ahead of Tyrone's Jason Dickson (Ford Fiesta Rally2) with Michael Boyle one second further behind. Cal McCarthy (Citroen C3 Rally 2) made a good start and slotted into fourth, 5.2 seconds behind Cronin.

The Ford Fiesta Rally2 cars of Matthew Boyle and Tyrone's Ryan Loughran followed as David Guest, also in a Ford Fiesta Rally2, occupied sixth. The only other West Cork competitor in the top ten was Barryroe co-driver Dylan Doonan, who was guiding Tyrone's Barry Morris to ninth place and the leading two-wheel drive exponents.

Michael Boyle, swept into a 7.1 second lead after the completion of SS2 (Bull Rock) that started in Drimoleague, with Cronin his closest pursuer, albeit with Dickson 2.3 seconds further behind in third. McCarthy and Guest were fifth and seventh respectively, separated by Dickson. Morris/Doonan were ninth, having lost the lead of the two-wheel drive category to the Escort of Cavan's Chris Armstrong by 7.6 seconds.

Jason McSweeney made up three places to slot into 14th, a place previously held on the opening stage by fellow Doheny driver Conor McCarthy, who was reseeded into the top 20 from his original seeding of No. 36. But he was forced to retire when his Ford Fiesta Rally2 sustained a broken propshaft off the start line of SS3 (Glanaphuca).

At the Drinagh Co-Op service park complex, rally leader Michael Boyle told The Southern Star, 'Seeing Dad (Declan Boyle) off on that first stage threw me a bit for sure, but he was out of the car and waving us on and thankfully himself and co-driver Patrick Walsh weren't hurt.’

Ryan Loughran, who had moved into second and was 9.4 seconds behind, had an untroubled run with Cronin a mere 0.8 seconds back in third. Cronin commented: ‘The pace is quick, we have just stiffened the car up now for the next loop of stages.’

Matthew Boyle was fourth. Cal McCarthy (fifth) lost time in an incident on the first real junction on SS3. Guest, who was 16.8 seconds further behind, explained an opening stage issue: ‘We stalled on the first stage, the alternator belt came off and we lost power steering.' McSweeney made up two places (12th) and was 6.3 seconds off a top ten place.

As predicted, weather conditions changed for the repeat loop with heavy mist and rain making for tricky and slippery conditions. Many of the top crews opted for wet compound tyres. Punching in the fastest time on SS4 (Nowen Hill), Michael Boyle extended his lead to 12 seconds with Cronin reeling in Loughran for second place and subsequently moving 4.8 seconds in front of the Tyrone driver.

Another stage win (on SS5) saw Boyle extend his advantage to 16.9 seconds and while Matthew Boyle netted a fastest stage time (on SS6), brother Michael arrived at the final service halt with an 18.4-second lead margin over Cronin.

‘Ah, sure I had a good loop, no moments, we stopped to change the back right wheel before the start of stage six and it took time to get the temperature of that tyre up to the same as the others,’ Cronin commented.

Dunmanway's Jason McSweeney (Ford Fiesta Rally2) was the fourth West Cork driver to finish inside the top ten - he finished ninth overall.

Loughran wasn't ready to settle for third while Matthew Boyle's stage win was a confidence-booster even though his selection of a soft slick made for tricky negotiating. McCarthy solidified his fifth place with a steady run with Guest, unchanged in sixth, declaring ‘We are playing with the set-up, the suspension was too hard, so we are going to soften it for the last two (stages).’

McSweeney's possession of tenth place could have achieved a more upward trajectory were it not for a puncture on stage five.

Managing leading margins can be a balancing act, as Michael Boyle experienced on the penultimate stage. His 18.4-second lead gave him a reasonable cause to back off, but he knew as he finished SS7 that he had probably given stage winner Cronin an opportunity as the margin between them was down to 9.4 seconds.

Pressing the proverbial re-set button for the final 10.76km trip across Bull Rock, Michael Boyle secured victory – his maiden National Rally Championship event victory.

Cronin took second and assurance that, with more regular seat time, he's well capable of more.

Although Loughran crossed the finish line in third, a damaged wheel prevented him from making the final control and promoted Matthew Boyle into third. Indeed, it was a significant moment for the Boyles as they secured an unprecedented championship result in Irish rallying as they – Declan, Michael and Matthew – clinched the top three overall spots in the popular Top Part West Coast Rally Championship. McCarthy, Dickson and Guest rounded out the top six.

The top ten was completed by Mayo's John Warren (Ford Fiesta Rally2), Morris/Doonan (Darrian T90 GTR), McSweeney and Donegal's Patrick McHugh (Darrian T90 GTR).