UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1

1st (3) Dominic McNeill/Francis Regan (Ford) 6.22

2nd (2) Kevin O'Kane/Stephen Griffith (Subaru) 6.30

3rd (1) Dermot Kelly/John Brennan (Ford) 6.38

4th (5) Peter McCullagh/Vincent Fergus (Ford) 6.41

5th (16) Paul Staunton/Bruce Burgess (Ford) 6.46

6th (4) John McKeown/Martin Carey (Ford) 6.49

7th (6) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Nagle (Celica) 6.50

8th (7) Ollie O'Donovan/David Moynihan (Subaru) 6.51

9th (15) Brian McCloskey/Shane O'Neill (Ford) 6.54

Despite the dry conditions this morning, first on the road Dermot Kelly found the going difficult through the grassy section of the opening stage, Drumhill. Last year's winner, Dermot, told us "I think I was cutting it for everybody else, making a track, I expect the boys behind will take time out of me on that one. It wasn't a great stage for me". Sure enough, next on the road Kevin O'Kane was 8s faster tand then Dominic McNeill was another 8s faster. Former All Ireland Champion O'Kane commented "It was OK, better than last year". When Dominic McNeill arrived in his beautiful black Escort WRC, an M-Sport former Eamonn Boland/Hugh Martin Doherty car, Dominic said "It went well, car feels really good".

John McKeown was 4th on the road and he told us he felt his Sierra was just a bit slow in this sort of company. Peter McCullagh reported no problems. Eugene Donnelly driving his newly acquired Celica GT4 said "I'm happy enough with that time, I thought that if I was within 20 or 30s of the leaders early on, it would be about right".

Further down the list, some drivers were reporting problems - Ollie O'Donovan's white Legacy was sporting a bashed rear driver's door, the London based Limerick man saying "I was off the road and puncytured 2 tyres". James Murphy wasn't at all happy - he said he was off the road as well, on the same corner as last year, and this time it cost him 4 minutes. Eddie Kinirons is still getting accustomed to lhd in the forests. Rogers Fencing man Cathal Rogers recorded 7.10 in his hired Lancer and told us he was being just a bit cautious in the new car.

Paul Staunton turned in a superb time in his Mk2 Escort, if anyone in a 2 wheel drive machine beats that time, they'll be going some!

There were very few non starters in the rally, but one notable one was John McCarthy, he decided to drive his Escort Cosworht the last few miles to the start of the rally and the engine went pop. It was a big disappointment for the agricultural machinery man from Carrigtwohill.

Some other times from that first stage included..Noel Driver on 7.01 and Eddie Kinirons on 7.12. No times as yet for John Donnelly...more news later..BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON