DUNMANWAY’S Jason McSweeney (Ford Escort WRC) and his Blackpool co-driver Liam Brennan had little to show for a lot of effort in the Historic category of the Circuit of Ireland Rally after they were forced to retire on the opening stage of Saturday's final leg.

It wasn't the performance they expected or wanted.

On Friday's opening leg of four stages, they held fifth overall, one minute and 25.8 seconds behind leader Ray Breen (Subaru Legacy), having lost over a minute when their Ford Escort WRC stopped; they also had intercom and power steering issues.

Any hope of salvation ended abruptly on Saturday's opening stage near Moy.

‘It's very disappointing, the car cut out on the road section, then we had low oil pressure,’ McSweeney said.

‘We were flat in sixth and something snapped, possibly the rear differential or transfer box. The car took off sideways, Luckily, we were able to hold it.

‘It's a long way to come up and end up like this, but we will just have to re-set and go again.'

The next round of the series is the Rally of the Lakes in three weeks' time, details of which will be announced this Saturday. In terms of the championship, McSweeney drops from first to second, eight points behind new leader Tyrone's Ronan Campbell and a point ahead of Ray Breen.

Elsewhere, Barryroe co-driver Dylan Doonan partnered Dungannon's Barry Morris (Darrian T90 GTR+) to victory in the modified category and eighth overall.  They led on Friday's opening stage but a mistake on SS4 allowed Donegal's Mark Alcorn lead at the overnight halt where the top three were covered by a blanket of ten seconds. Morris/Doonan reclaimed the lead on Saturday's opening stage and were never headed thereafter.

In the main event there certainly was plenty of drama as Donegal's David Kelly (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and his Killarney co-driver Shane Buckley edged out the Toyota GR Yaris of Monaghan's Josh Moffett and his Wexford co-driver Andy Hayes by just half a second. The Kilkenny/Limerick crew of Eddie Doherty/Tom Murphy (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) were 59.5s further behind in third.

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Since his switch from the Citroen C3 Rally2 to a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, Ballylickey driver Daniel Cronin is trying to balance persistence and patience in an effort to get the best from the Japanese marque.

From his debut outing on the Mayo Rally to the three-day Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally and the most recent event, the Birr Rally, Cronin has endured a tough time.

To his credit, he's kept trying to find progress but at times it seems it's one step forward and two steps backwards. But he's determined to make it work.

This is probably the busiest time on the rallying scene, with Sunday's Monaghan Rally, round three of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship, the third rally in as many weeks. The following weekend, the Munster Moonraker Forest Rally, will make that four in a row.

Cronin's Toyota is being looked after by TGM (Tom Gahan Motorsport), who also has other customers (including Dunmanway's Jason McSweeney, Josh Moffett and Ray Breen) to look after on events.

‘I should have figured out what the problem is, but the thing is it's event after event so I haven't had much time to talk to Tom (Gahan). I know the team is looking into things and there is something, hopefully they'll find it and see what this issue is,’ Cronin said.

‘It's a busy time for rallying, then with the bank holiday, there are not too many days left.'

Although Cronin is number seven on a reserve list, he will start the nine-stage event where two years ago his performance showed what he is capable of. On the opening four stages, driving his VW Polo GTi R5, he held third overall behind the Moffett brothers Josh (Citroen C3 Rally2) and Sam (Hyundai I20 Rally2) before retiring on the fifth stage. On SS4, he was only a second behind Josh Moffett, who went on to win his home event.

Sunday will mark Cronin's second appearance in Farney country. Home hero and recent Clonakilty Park Hotel West Cork Rally winner Josh Moffett (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) is the top seed and. He will renew battle with Circuit of Ireland winner Donegal's David Kelly (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2), who like Moffett, is contesting both the Tarmac and National championships. Donegal's Michael Boyle (Skoda) and fellow countyman Eamonn Kelly (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), who returns after crashing out of the Galway International Rally and Longford's Shane Quinn (Ford Fiesta Rally2) complete the top five.