Linnane takes the big one at Leinster Trophy Meeting

Formula Sheane has seen a number of new drivers come on board for 2026 and as their season nears its end, there are a few more showing interest for 2027.

The Airportcars.ie supported class once again were offered the historic David Sheane Trophy (formerly the Allied Irish Finance Trophy) by the Leinster Motor Club for their second race last weekend, adding to the usual excitement coming up to a big meeting. Sean Kiernan was busy prepping his own car and also building up a second car for Le Mans team Murphy Prototypes boss Greg Murphy, who was making a return to the class after a long time away. Unfortunately, the car had teething problems and Greg pulled out of the weekend on the Friday, but is hoping to be on the grid when the class visits Kirkistown later this month.

Enda O’Connor, having completely rebuilt his car, was confident he could run at the front, as he is known as a bit of an International Layout expert and has the class lap record there too. Richard Kearney has been the man to catch all season but arrived in Mondello with a couple of cracked ribs and was unsure if he could drive for a few laps, never mind a race distance. Add this to the recent pace shown by Sean Kiernan and Garret McKenna, and there was always going to be plenty of action at the sharp end.

O’Connor and Kiernan were the fastest once qualifying got going, with former karting Champion Róisín Sweeney showing great pace in third.  She pitted towards the end of the session though and Garett McKenna banged in a fast one to demote her to fourth. Kearney did not appear and so would start from the back but he wouldn’t be alone. After some paperwork issues, O’Connor and Kiernan were forced to start at the back, elevating McKenna and Sweeney to first and second respectively.  Mike Dermody, who had entertained the whole paddock and a selection of marshals with a hilarious Karaoke evening in the bar on Saturday night, was third with Thomas Foley’s Jordan liveried car joining him on row two.  Then it was Kevin Igoe and Chris McCabe, from Kearney, Charlie Linnane, Sean Kiernan and Enda O’Connor.

When the lights went out in the opening Airportcars.ie race, Róisín got the best getaway to briefly get ahead of McKenna on the run to Castrol. He was on the inside though and took it back through the corner, as O’Connor scythed his Sandyford Motors car up through the pack. Foley was third with McCabe fourth but by Turn three, O’Connor was by both and up to third. He sliced by Sweeney at Bridgestone for second and incredibly was past McKenna by 7A to take the lead of the race!. Richie Kearney was also on a charge and on the way to BIrrane’ s Bends, it was O’Connor, McKenna, Sweeney and Kearney nose to tail with McCabe not far away. Then it was Foley, under pressure from Sean Kiernan. Sweeney tried a move into Castrol but McKenna had it covered and then gave Kearney a run at them both. Into the second apex of Turn Three he took third away from then Nordic Spirit car and set off in pursuit of McKenna. McKenna put up a good fight but Kearney eventually got the job done into 7A, elevating him to second. O’Connor meanwhile, was motoring away into the distance.

Chris McCabe had moved to fourth and closed down McKenna, briefly taking the place away before McKenna executed the Southside switchback to perfection. Half a lap later though and both were in the gravel trap after a territorial dispute allowing the closely following Sweeney back into third.

After an early spin, Charlie Linnane was on a charge in the John Linnane Motors car, displacing the scrapping Igoe, Dermody and Kiernan and just getting by the flying Foley before the Alfa Romeo Ireland safety car was despatched onto track to allow for the removal of the McKenna and McCabe machines. As the two cars were cleared, the safety car had already passed the pit entrance so had to do one more lap. This meant it would be a one lap dash to the flag when the track went green!

O’Connor made no mistakes to get the head down and took the chequered flag for a very impressive win with a decidedly off form Kearney crossing the line second. A delighted Sweeney set a personal fastest lap on the final tour to rebuff a challenge from Linnane and take her first Formula Sheane podium, while Kiernan grabbed fifth from Foley at 7A on the final tour too.

For Race Two, the grid was pretty similar with McKenna and Sweeney on the front row. Dermody lined up third from Foley, Igoe, McCabe, Kearney, Linnane, Kiernan and O’Connor.

Once again, Sweeney, having finally banished her standing start demons, made a cracker of a start but once again McKenna took it back down into Castrol. In their wake, Kearney was sent flying, having made contact with the back of Dermody’s car at Campion. When the championship leader’s car came into land, it was minus a wheel and he was out. The red flags flew almost immediately and as the leaders slowed, hands in the air, some of the rest were unsighted. a pile up was narrowly averted but O’Connor made contact with Sweeney, sending himself into the air and into the bank on the run to 7A. When they came back round to the grid to form up, O’Connor had got going again and was on the grid, albeit sans nosecone and with slightly bent suspension.

This race of course, was for the big one. The Allied Irish Finance Trophy  is a famous piece with plenty of history and a few years back , the Leinster Motor club decided to rename it in honour of the late great David Sheane. Aptly enough, the class had been chosen to compete for it once again in 2026 so it was all to play for as the remaining cars started a second green flag lap.  For the third time of the day, Sweeney briefly got the nose ahead but once again McKenna led into Castrol and eased away slightly through Campion. Dermody was third from Foley, who already had McCabe, car fixed from the earlier accident, breathing down his neck. Then it was Kiernan and O’Connor, who displaced Linnane at Turn Three.

As the first two eased away, O’Connor got past Foley at Lola, with Linnane following him through.  On the way up the hill to Birrane’s Bends, McCabe, Dermody and Kiernan were three abreast, with McCabe coming out tops, and moving up to third. This slowed Dermody and like a flash, O’Connor was though too.  As Mccabe began to close down the leaders, Sweeney was pressurising McKenna for the lead. A look into Birrane’s Bends was covered by McKenna and a run onto the Birrane straight saw the pair side by side but once again McKenna refused to be ruffled and hung on to the lead. McCabe got around the outside of her for second at Turn three with Kiernan and McKenna also in close attendance.  McCabe then grabbed the lead into 7A with the late braking Sweeney also forcing her way through. The order at this stage was McCabe, Sweeney, Kiernan, McKenna, Linnane, O’Connor, Foley and Dermody. Linnane, again beginning to charge, got alongside McKenna out of Lola and got the job done into 7A. O’Connor then immediately closed down McKenna, who had an uncharacteristic spin at Devaney’s.

As McCabe eased away, Kiernan and Linnane were right with Sweeney. As Kiernan took a look down the inside at Devaney’s, she went wide and spun on the exit, dropping herself right to the back. Just as it seemed McCabe had one hand on the famous trophy, his car began to slow ever so slightly. The alternator belt had decided, today of all days, to leave the chat and the Castrol car was gradually losing power. As the other duo closed in only one thing was for certain, a white car was going to take the famous trophy, but which one?!

On the final lap, on the run to 7A, McCabe covered the inside and Kiernan took a brave lunge down the outside on the brakes. It didn’t work though and the Kiernan Auto and Sabre Lighting car went skating across the gravel trap, before rejoining in a distant third.

This was it then, McCabe vs Linnane. Four Corners to go to decide the Trophy. Driving the race of this life, and knowing he wasn’t involved in any championship battle, Linnane launched it down the inside into Birrane’s bends. McCabe gave racing room and the pair tackled the two corners wheel to wheel with Linnane just coming out in front.  Up the hill to Southside for the final time and McCabe got alongside on the brakes down the outside. Any thoughts of a switchback were scuppered when he went slightly sideways mid corner, but it didn’t matter as Linnane was inch perfect and it was he who blasted across the line to grab the coveted trophy. Not a bad 2026 class debut for the Wicklowman!

So just two more races to go in the revitalised Formula Sheane series for 2026. They will be held at Kirkistown later this month. While Kearney, who will hopefully be back to full health and O’Connor have to be favourites, there is no doubt that rest are closing the gap and happily, some new names are coming to the fore too.  There are a few cars up for sale too so all signs are that we will see bigger grids in 2027!

Report: Leo Nulty

Images: Marc Quinlivan