Keyes back for finale

MOTOR SPORT: Limerick drivers Gerry Keyes (Crecora) and David Lyons (Clarina) are separated by 10 points as they battle for the Ford Ka Rally Championship in the seventh and final round in Sunday's rally near Castleisland.

Keyes looked a runaway title winner until he suffered severe back injuries in a crash in the Clare rally and missed the last round, which was won by Lyons. He is making a comeback on Sunday, with the aid of a back support. His co-driver will be Christina Shanahan from Askeaton.

Lyons must win to snatch the title, but there could be a surprise result as none of the top-six positions are finalised.

After six rounds the scoreboard reads: 1, Gerry Keyes 146 points, 2, David Lyons 136, 3, Kenneth Mulvaney 105, 4, John Folan 95, 5, Martin Laverty 86, 6, Viviane Noone 83.

The three drivers shortlisted for this year's Billy Coleman Award, young rally driver of the year scheme, are: John Carroll (Danesfort, Co Kilkenny), Shaun Gallagher (Letterkenny, Co Donegal) and Dessie Keenan (Tydavnet, Co Monaghan).

The other finalists were: Andrew Browne, William Kavanagh, Kevin Dalton, Gus Kearney, Jason Kelly, John Kelly, Aaron McHale, Ray Martin, Kenneth Mulvaney, Ken O'Neill and Rodney Wilton.

The six nominated drivers for the Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of The Year and Sexton Trophy, backed by Irish Dunlop and the Irish Sports Council, are: last year's winner Michael Devaney, Robbie Coleman, Charlie Donnelly, Eoin Murray, Richie Faulkner and Mark Dunleavy.

Both the rally and racing packages are each worth €32,000 to the winners. The results will be announced at the Alfa Romeo- sponsored Motorsport Ireland Awards For Excellence function in Dublin on December 2nd.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday: Donegal MC, Navigation Trial, starts Harley's Bar, Trentagh, Co Donegal, 20:00; Carrick-on-Suir MC, Navigation trial, starts Community centre, Piltown, Co Kilkenny, 20:00. Sunday: Kerry MC, Stage Rally, Castleisland, Co Kerry, 11.0; MEC Rallysprint, Mondello Park, 10:30.