BERTIE FISHER (Ballinamallard) and Rory Kennedy (Letterkenny) in a Subaru Impreza are the comfortable overnight leaders of the AA Circuit of Ireland rally after yesterday's 10 stages, which began in Bangor and ended in Tallaght last night.

With the early retirement of Andrew Nesbitt and the disappointing performance of Austin McHale there is no major pressure on the leaders.

The expected big challenge from James Cullen and Ellen Morgan in a Ford Escort RS Cosworth did not materialise, and as they struggle in 4th place, the Ford flag is being flown to good effect by Stephen Murphy and Mickey Joe Morrissey in second place and Eamonn Boland and Damien Morrissey in third.

Nesbitt fell victim of the slippery going in the early stages and his own over exuberance, putting his Toyota Celica GT off the road. Andrew Boland in a Ford Escort RS Cosworth took up the running, but a sticking throttle slowed him down.

Fisher dictated the pace to lead the rally by one minute 36 seconds as the crews checked in at the Regional Technical College in Tallaght last night.