1^st (5) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 41.21

2^nd (1) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 41.41

3^rd (4) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 42.31

4^th (11) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 42.40

5^th (2) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 43.20

6^th (14) Tim McNulty/Anthony Nestor (Impreza WRC) 43.29

7^th (9) Paul Harris/John McCafferty (Impreza WRC) 43.46

8^th (39) Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Focus WRC) 43.50

9^th (21) Brendan Kelly/Derek Brannigan (Corolla WRC) 43.55

10^th (26) Maurice Gass/James McKee (Impreza WRC) 45.09

11^th (48) Seamus Heron/Fabian McShane (Lancer N) 45.27

12^th (19) Aaron MacHale/Ger McMonagle (Lancer N) 45.31

Eugene Donnelly was quick to respond to Andrew Nesbitt’s Carnhill fastest time by turning in the quickest on stage 8, Garrygort. Eugene’s co driver Paul Kiely smiled at stage finish and said. "Andrew just borrowed those 3 seconds!" Eugene commented. "I knew Andrew would push hard this morning, but the whole problem is which tyres to pick. The weather is very unpredictable. It was pouring with rain on that stage from about halfway through to the finish, from the tractors on". When quizzed about a slightly damaged front bumper, Eugene shrugged it off. "Just touched a chicane bale". Andrew Nesbitt echoed Eugene’s thoughts on the subject of tyres. "Maybe there is no right tyre". Donnelly’s actual time for the stage was 5.39. Nesbitt 5.42 and then there were some fair gaps. McGarrity and McNulty both on 5.56, Lynch 5.59, Brendan Kelly 6.04. Austin MacHale 6.05. McGarrity was again totally wrong on his tyre choice, co driver Dermot O’Gorman saying. "We’ve been more sideways through the last 2 stages than we were through the whole Killarney Rally of the Lakes". Austin MacHale is still having some intermittent intercom problems. Tim McNulty said his engine is now 100 per cent, yesterday’s problem could have been down to a faulty spark plug.

A very bemused Paul Harris reported yet another stage start stall in his Subaru, Paul reckoning he lost a stack of time and just can’t understand the car is so hard to get off the line. Matthew Wilson had a decent time on the first stage out this morning, but not so great on the second, where like so many others he was caught on the wrong tyres. Maurice Gass’ Pedro Pet Foods backed Impreza, now into the top 10, says he is just trying to keep a good steady pace, and get as many stage miles done as he can, following so many misfortunes over the last year.

In Group N Seamus Leonard turned on the style through Garrygort and set a time of 6.18. Cahal Rogers was 6.19. Aaron MacHale 6.21 as was Colm Murphy with Seamus Heron back on 6.27. Seamus had a very big moment on the stage which took the wind out of his sails somewhat. Leonard is still trying to adapt his driving style to this new breed of group N machine, his only real problem so far being a 6^th gear spin yesterday, and also a couple of stages down on power until the Prodrive engineers discovered that the exhaust was totally squashed.

Sean Devine is still lying just outside the top 15, behind the top gpN boys, Sean’s Impreza WRC giving trouble in 5^th and 6^th gears. Co driver Robert McDaid having to hold the gearstick in place at times. Gavin Harris, with Estate Agent Shaun Lafferty co driving, still sitting inside the top 20 in his gpN Lancer, having a steady run, but Ivan Stewart in his Escort WRC has now slipped ahead of Gavin by 1s in the overall standings. Shaun Gallagher lost time through stages 5 and 6 when his Saxo bonnet started to flap about, one of the securing pins broken. John Dalton continues to lead the National section in his Darrian, just over 50s ahead of Damien Gallagher with Robbie Peoples 3^rd and Paul Gallagher 4^th, having just spun his Corolla twice in Garrygort. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net