1^st (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 30.21.5

2^nd (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 30.40.8

3^rd (2) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 31.04.5

4^th (9) Donie O'Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Focus WRC) 31.05.1

5^th (12) Daniel & Michael Doherty (Impreza WRC) 31.27.7

6^th (16) Dessie Keenan/Enda Sherry (Lancer N) 32.36.9

7^th (23) Garry Jennings/Paul Garry (Lancer N) 32.46.2

8^th (18) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Lancer N) 33.00.9

9^th (15) Aaron MacHale/Ger McMonagle (Lancer N) 33.02.7

10^th (24) Robbie McGurk/Rory Kennedy (Lancer N) 33.07.8

We certainly have a race on our hands now on this Circuit of Ireland with Eugene Donnelly clocking up a fastest time through stage 5 to break Derek McGarrity’s dominant run. Eugene may have been faster by just .1 of a second, but it is enough to make the fight at the front even more interesting. Austin MacHale was faster than Donie O’Sullivan through that 5^th stage as well, Austin moving into 3^rd place. Derek McGarrity said here at service "Everything is fine, I’m quite happy, I maybe over-cooked the tyres a bit but its not a problem". Eugene Donnelly said "This is what its all about" while his co driver Paul Kiely commented. "We’re getting the confidence up". Austin MacHale wasn’t too happy to have dented the side of his Focus and broke the wing mirror against one of the straw bale chicanes. Donie O’Sullivan couldn’t give any real reason for his slightly slower time through that 5^th stage, but reckons that after the long delay he just didn’t get into it, get going. Daniel Doherty in 5^th felt that he had a really good run at that stage 6, but was a bit disappointed not to be a fraction quicker. Maurice Gass had been up with the leaders after the first stage, and then dropped to 7^th and then outside the top 10, and we understand now that the Millview Fuels man may have decided to call it a day, as the misfire on his Hyundai has become untenable.

In Group N Dessie Keenan is really flying through the stages now, Garry Jennings was ahead but is having to give best, Garry’s cause not helped by getting held up behind Charlie Mavitty at times. Interestingly, Colm Murphy was 2nd fastest gpN car through that stage 5, but still was 7s down on the bionic Keenan.

A few times not listed above include – Paddy White on 34.22.6 in his ex Makien Impreza WRC, still worried about the clutch. Cathal Rogers is on 34.11.5.

On the Easter Stages part of the rally Kevin Lynch led with his Subaru after the 5^th of their stages, by a massive 38s from Kieran Shaw. Kieran in turn was 42s up on Dickie Curran in his gpN Lancer. Denis Biggerstaff was 4^th. Young Michael Curran 5^th and Seamus Donnelly 6^th. Making up the top 10 was Stephen Moore in 7^th, John McGlaughlin in 8^th. Jonny McKenna 9^th and Brendan Campbell 10^th. Former NI Champion George Robinson was 11^th. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON (with thanks to Michael Patterson and Zoe Todd & Davie Hamilton). www.rallynews.net