McCarthy took a five second lead over the opening Askamore stage, only for McNeill to take eight seconds back on Gibbet Hill, giving him a three second lead going into the third stage of nine.

Top seed Dermot Kelly is keeping a watchful eye in his Escort, setting the second fastest time over Gibbet Hill, leaving him a further 16 seconds back in third place.

The holidaying Seamus Burke, drving a RallyHire Mitsubishi Evo5, is in a very good position to break into the top three, as he lies just four seconds behind Kelly.

The Donegal-born driver, who was based in Enniscorthy earlier in his life, is a regular on the rally scene in the US state of Georgia and only entered after hearing that the Forestry Rally was taking place. One way or the other, it should be a vacation to remember.

In fifth spot, fresh from his successful Network Q exploits in the Welsh forests, is Eamonn Boland, who is easing his way gradually into this one, lying only 15 seconds back from Burke in fifth in the NVD Subaru - that's the one he keeps for forestries obviously...

His other Subaru tucked up at home waiting for the start of next year's Tarmac Championship, which begins with the Mayo Stages Rally on March 11th, 2001.

The rest of the top ten is made up of Niall Driver, John Donnelly, John Reid and David James, with Wicklowmen and close neighbours Noel Driver and Martin Byrne tying for tenth.

John McCluskey, making his debut, took over his seat from Neil McShane, after the latter was given an entry in the Race of Champions in the Canary Islands this weekend.

OVERALL PROVISIONAL after Stage 2/9
 1  5 Dominic McNeill/Francis Regan        Ballymena      Escort Cosworth     12:09
 2 10 John McCarthy/Dan McGuire            Cork           Escort Cosworth     12:12
 3  1 Dermot Kelly/John Brennan            Kilmallock     Escort Cosworth     12:28
 4 16 Seamus Burke/Brian Sharpe            California     Mitsubishi Evo5     12:32
 5  6 Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey       Wexford        Subaru WRC          12:47
 6  4 Niall Driver/Francis Corrigan        Wicklow        Mitsubishi Evo 6    13:17
 7  2 John Donnelly/Greg McCarthy          Ballymena/Cork Escort Cosworth     13:19
 8 20 John Reid/Brendan Greene             Dublin         MkII Escort         13:31
 9 15 David James/Ron Guha                 Wexford/Dublin MkII Escort         13:33
10  8 Noel Driver/Joe Shinnors             Wicklow/Limk   Escort Cosworth     13:37
10 24 Martin Byrne/Stephen Byrne           Wicklow        Ford Fiesta         13:37