RALLY NEWS NO.2                Oldcastle/Sunday 2.15  www.rallynews.net

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 1
1st (2) Sean Gallagher/Claire Gallagher (Esc.Cos) 9.48.5
2nd (9) Paul McEnroe/Alan Keenan (Lancer N) 9.52.8
3rd (5) Dominic Loughran/Michael Courtney (Lancer N) 9.52.9
4th (11) Martin Brady/Barry Sheridan (Esc.Cos) 9.57.9
5th (10) Joe Curran/Martin McGarrity (Impreza N) 9.59.3
6th (105) Basil Stephenson/Trevor Culbert (Esc.Cos) 10.10.6
7th (7) Ollie O'Reilly/Martin Cahill (Escort) 10.10.9
8th (18) Andrew Browne/Teresa Mulvaney (Impreza N) 10.15.0
9th (3) Paul McCann/James McCann (Esc.Cos) 10.18.0
10th (4) Enda Keenan/Laura Moffett (Escort) 10.20.3

Sean Gallagher seemed more than surprised when he arrived in after the first stage to find himself leading the rally.  He remarked. "It was very slippy, I was minding it, being careful, and of course Claire (co-driving daughter) has no experience on the pace notes".  What might have made Sean's job just a little bit easier was that No.1 seed Pat Donegan's Escort slid down the road and into a hedge at a square right junction near the end of the stage. Donegan doesn't often make mistakes, this was just a symptom of just how slippy and treacherous the roads are today, especially with a little bit of oil spilled on the surface. Second on the road Paul McCann remarked. "Couldn't get going."  He still set a 9th fastest time. 

Enda Keenan in the black Mk2 Escort was taking it fairly handy, but still set a fair time for a Mk2 Escort, and of course it is Laura Moffett's first time at the co-driving.  NE Single Stage winner Garrett McCullagh set a time of 10.26, just outside the top 10, Garrett remarking. "Poor enough run, the car is not handling right".  Dominic Loughran leads Group N and is 3rd overall, Dominic quite surprised as it is his first time out in the car, and he reckons there is a bit more to come. 

Further stories include.  Ollie O'Reilly had a fairly close call on a big jump in his Mk2 Escort.  Michael Curran put his Escort in a hedge but still recorded a time of 10.26. Joe Curran spun his Impreza at a junction but is still 2nd Group N.  Martin Brady's Escort Cosworth was on its side for a few seconds at a square left, luckily the car hauled itself out.  Gerry Reilly's Civic brake pedal was on the floor a couple of times. John Kelly reports his Lancer to be jumping about "all over the shop".  John Fitzsimons put his Escort off the road, still going but lost a bit of time. Andrew Browne spun his GpN Impreza, was also stuck in 3rd gear twice, still set a respectable time.

John Carter made a wrong tyre choice, but the A & A Insulation man dropped a fair bit of time. Paddy O'Reilly's Escort had clutch and brake troubles. Gary McPhillips overshot a junction with his Escort and lost 10s. Daniel Coughlan's Escort was on 3 cylinders but still set a respectable time. James Cassidy had coil trouble, felt it was very slow but the time wasn't so bad - 10.40. Peter Wilson's Civic overshot a junction but was still right on the pace as regards the class, his time 10.32. An early retirement amongst the Peugeot 205 runners was Colm Cronin who put his example off the road on the familiarisation run…oh dear!
More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON    www.rallynews.net