Second-placed John McCarthy, Dermot Kelly in third and Noel Driver in joint tenth ALL failed to make it back intact to the next service, after Stage Six.

The ongoing drama around Mount Leinster hasn't affected Ballymena's Dominic McNeil, who still leads - though instead of McCarthy and Kelly, he now has Wexford's Eamonn Boland to deal with.

John Donnelly's encouraging start - he was in seventh position after the opening two stages - has seen him rise to third.

Gorey's David James currently lis sixth, but with another top rally taking place in the same area next week, it's thought he may cruise home to save his machine for next week's clubmans event.