1^st (1) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 1.55.37.9

2^nd (6) Eamonn Boland/Francis Regan (Focus WRC) 1.57.23.8

3^rd (11) Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Impreza WRC) 1.57.33.1

4^th (3) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O'Gorman (Impreza WRC) 1.57.53.3

5^th (4) Andrew Nesbitt/James O'Brien (Impreza WRC) 1.58.20.7

6^th (8) Ray Breen/Andrew Purcell (Focus WRC) 1.58.34.0

7^th (5) Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Focus WRC) 1.58.56.6

8^th (9) Gareth Jones/David Moynihan (Impreza WRC) 2.02.55.3

9^th (138) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 2.03.15.4

10^th (22) James Foley/Dominic Markey (Lancer N) 2.03.37.0

11^th (23) Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Impreza N) 2.04.05.9

12^th (17) Hugh M Doherty/Michael McBride (Impreza WRC) 2.04.30.5

Following service after stage 13 Eugene Donnelly and Tim McNulty went out to stage 14 both knowing it was now or never as regards winning this First Choice Flooring Galway International Rally.  Just 28s separated the 2 cars and they had been swapping times through the morning stages.  Donnelly gave it everything down the 17.3km Ballyfa test.  He pushed the Corolla so hard that the brakes started to overheat and he was having to pump the pedal at stage finish. As he watched his mirrors at stage finish it suddenly dawned him that were was no McNulty Subaru behind him  When Eamonn Boland arrived he was quick to recount that McNulty had unfortunately crashed just before the end of the stage and his rally was over. Happily Tim and co driver Anthony Nestor were unhurt.

All that remains now for Donnelly is to keep his Corolla between the hedges and switch into safe mode for the last 3 stages and surely the win will be his.

McNulty’s retirement promotes Boland to 2^nd of course and Peadar Hurson to 3^rd. The battle between these 2 is not yet over – Hurson was a fraction faster through the stage. Derek McGarrity, Ray Breen, Andrew Nesbitt and Austin MacHale all set fast times in the stage, within a second or two of each other. Breen saying “It’s a matter of getting the car home now”. While Andrew Nesbitt is happy to get a few miles in the car, get more into the groove before his next event, Rally Ireland.  News from slightly down the order is that Aaron MacHale as retired the Corolla WRC, apparently the transmission locked up and the engine died.

Colm Murphy maintained his Group N lead with a time just a fraction faster than James Foley through the stage, although the quickest group N on this occasion was Seamus Leonard. Seamus is down in 14^th place just ahead of Kevin Kelleher. James Cullen is 16^th. Roy White has been setting some good times and following his 4 minute time loss yesterday after an accident he has brought his Lancer up into the top 20. James Foley was fortunately not to lose any real time with a puncture in the stage and Willie Fannin softened his Subaru suspension and it seemed to be better.  Kevin Kelleher has some 4^th gear trouble with his Lancer.

Tom Holton continues to lead the National part of the rally, his Celica has been going like a train so far but he looked a worried man at the end of stage 14 saying that the car seemed to be well down on power. Brendan Donegan is still 2^nd in his Lancer, Wesley Patterson 3^rd and Ollie O’Reilly is now into 4^th ahead of Brian Brogan both in Escorts.

John McHugh leads the Junior part of the rally from Tony Gibbons in a Civic with Kevin Gallagher 3^rd in his Corsa. In the Historic rally Ray Cunningham leads in his Mini Cooper S from Martin Ward (Manta). Todd Falvey has brought his Porsche into 3^rd. Adrian Kermode/Maurice Beckett have speeded up in their Porsche 911 and they are up to 4^th. 

Finally for now, just to clarify an earlier incident concerning a spectator being hurt – the person involved fell in a ditch and hurt himself, there was no rally car involved.

More news later.  BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net

**For LIVE SMS results: Irish mobiles text RALLY  ITC to 53503: UK mobiles text RALLY  ITC to 60066. Irish cost 30cents. UK 25p