Rally News No.2 Service Macroom Saturday 11.50am

Unofficial Leaderboard After Stage 2

1^st (5) Tim McNulty/Eugene O’Donnell (Subaru WRC) 20.04

2^nd (2) Eugene Donnelly/Paul Kiely (Corolla WRC) 20.12

3^rd (3) Derek McGarrity/Dermot O’Gorman (Impreza WRC) 20.27

4^th (4) Donie O’Sullivan/Paul Nagle (Focus WRC) 20.35

5^th (6) Liam McCarthy/Kieran Murphy (Corolla WRC) 20.39

6^th (8) Denis Cronin/Helen Sullivan (Celica) 21.04

7^th (9) Ollie O’Donovan/David Moynihan (Subaru WRC) 21.11

8^th (20) Colm Murphy/Ger Loughrey (Impreza N) 21.14

9^th (17) Willie Fannin/Mick Courtney (Impreza N) 21.30

10^th (11) Johnny O’Sullivan/Pat Cashman (Escort WRC) 21.35

Eugene Donnelly was stunning through the twelve mile long Cool Mountain stage. The Corolla WRC driver was 21 seconds faster than Derek McGarrity to the point were Derek thought that maybe the time was wrong, the current Tarmac champion saying "we were not hanging about in there, I am not so sure about Eugene’s time ". Eugene Donnelly was a picture of composure reckoning that he had just had a good run. Tim McNulty continues to lead the rally, the Dubliner was second fastest through SS2, his time of 7.50 only four seconds slower than Eugene.

Eamonn Boland was immediately on the pace after his first stage puncture, Eamonn matching McGarrity on a time of 10.07, but last years rally winner joked when he arrived into service "it is a bit late now" referring to his earlier time loss. Donie O’Sullivan in the Bewleys Focus is really struggling with the handling, co driver Paul Nagle saying "it is all over the place, not good". Liam McCarthy has settled into a solid fifth in the Murphy Construction backed McKinstry Impreza, but the local crew had a half spin in stage two costing a few seconds. Ollie O’Donovan stalled in stage two, his Impreza refusing to fire up, Ollie reckoned it cost at least 15 seconds. Tony Davies is settling in well while Jakes Kelly quipped "we are breaking down the language barrier".

Phil Collins is driving a storming rally and lies just off the leaderboard on a total of 21.36, but his main rival for the modified class John Dalton has decided to retire his Darrian after breaking fourth gear.

In GpN the battle is really starting to hot up. Colm Murphy leads Willie Fanin by 16 seconds for the production category while James O’Sullivan is just behind on a total of 21.52 with Alan Ring only one second down on a total of 21.53. O23 Tiles man O’Sullivan is struggling with rear suspension problems, his Lancer described as being all over the place. Paddy White is also struggling with suspension, his Impreza is still on a hard setting from last weekend’s Tulip rally, while missing here at service is Barry Coleman. More News Later…. Michael Patterson & Zoe Todd