Boland leads Circuit of Ireland

Wexford's Eamonn Boland and his co-driver, Damien Morrissey (Subaru WRC) lead the Circuit of Ireland Rally at the end of the first leg.

Overnight, they have a commanding lead of 54.1 seconds over the Subaru of Derek McGarrity with Tim NcNulty, also in a Subaru, just a fraction of a second behind in third.

It began well for Boland, who led last year’s winner Mark Higgins by some four seconds after the opening stage. However, Boland stalled his Subaru at a junction as Higgins set a blistering pace on the stage near Anglesey Mountain to move into a 22.7 second lead over Boland.

That margin increased to 35.4 seconds after S.S. 3, but Higgins retired his Subaru with differential failure on S.S. 4.

Boland ended the day 54.1 seconds ahead of McGarrity, who dropped time on the day’s closing two stages.

On S.S. 3, he pulled out the intercom lead as he tried to fasten his safety harness that had loosened. On the fourth and final stage this evening, his Subaru landed awkwardly over a jump and broke a damper.

Tim McNulty is third overnight, just a fraction of a second behind as he grows in confidence.

An incorrect tyre choice cost Gareth MacHale time on the first pair of stages, he’s fourth followed by his brother, Aaron, both on board Ford Focus WRC’s.

Roy White (MG S2000) in sixth, leads Group N.

1. E. Boland/D. Morrissey (Subaru WRC) 57m. 11.6s.

2. D. McGarrity/D. Falvey (Subaru WRC) 58m. 05.8s.

3. T. McNulty/E. O'Donnell (Subaru WRC) 58m. 06.7s.

4. G. MacHale/C. Parry (Ford Focus WRC) 58m. 17.9s.

5. A. MacHale/K. Duffy (Ford Focus WRC) 59m. 45.2s.

6. R. White/S. McCauley (MG S2000) 1h. 01m. 22.6s.

7. J. McGlaughlin/C. Henderson (Mitsubishi) 1h. 01m. 48.6s.

8. B. Cumiskey/C. Foley (Mitsubishi) 1h. 04m. 19.8s.

9. M. Bird/K. Kane (Subaru WRC) 1h. 04m. 16.3s.

10. D. Wright/S. Wright) Mitsubishi) 1h. 06m. 01,5s.