In a grandstand finish, the Moffett brothers Josh and Sam from Monaghan, finished less than a second apart in the opening round of the Valvoline National Forestry Rally Championship.

The first event of the year was the Willie Loughman Memorial Carrick on Suir Forest Rally, based in Piltown, County Kilkenny, where current Billy Coleman Award winner and Young Rally Driver of the Year Josh got the better of his older brother Sam by just six tenths of a second.

Sam had led for the first four stages, but Josh then went ahead when he took eleven seconds from his main rival on the penultimate stage to go ahead by six. However, the elder sibling fought back, pulling back 5.7 on the last test, but it wasn't quite enough to claim victory.

Irish Tarmac champion Keith Cronin finished third on his Ford Fiesta debut, with defending Forestry title holder Desi Henry fourth.