The cream has risen to the top and in doing so has teed up a mouthwatering final day at the 114th PGA Championship in Palmerstown House Estate.
Former DP World Tour professional Niall Kearney smashed the course record with a 64 to join former Challenge Tour winner Colm Moriarty (Glasson) in a share of the lead on six-under-par.
The late, early players got the best side of the draw and Moriarty roared to the summit on eight-under through thirteen holes which was six-under for his day and was still out in front despite letting shots go on 14 and 17 after a 68.
“It was a different day to yesterday,” said Moriarty who is yet to etch his name on the trophy after two runner-up finishes.
“And there wasn’t a breath of wind really when we started a little bit of mist, but that cleared up pretty quick, and I say the first 12, 13 holes are practically flat. So it was really ideal scoring conditions.”
The Glasson professional would dearly love to end his time as the nearly man in this championship and etch his name onto the trophy.
“I’ve had a few close calls in this tournament, but I’ve never actually won, had a couple of seconds.
“I mean, look, it’s It’s our flagship event. It’s the one you want on the mantelpiece.”
Kearney meanwhile moved from the periphery and into the frame with eight birdies in a flawless second round and he will be looking to come away with more than just his name in the record books on Friday.
The Dubliner birdied three of his first five holes before adding a fourth on the 12th which opened the floodgates for four successive gains from the 14th as he catapulted his way alongside Moriarty.
“It’s lovely to finish like that. I just just felt as though I was a little bit sharper today,” said Kearney.
“I was going for a little bit more, a little bit more freedom within myself.
“Yesterday, you know, shooting a couple over I was well down the field. I knew today it was going to be a big day, you know, just to get back into the tournament.
“I knew I had to shoot under par, it’s nice to do that and really get back into the tournament and, you know, give myself a go at it tomorrow.”
Joining them in a blockbuster three-ball is former Irish PGA champion Michael McGeady who plotted his way along as birdies on 11, 13 and 18 saw him home in 33 for a no fuss 68.
Unlikely first round co-leader Sean O’Donoghue of Mount Wolseley battled back from a horror start where he bogeyed the third and double bogeyed the fifth with four birdies in his last five holes to climb back to within one of the lead and he will be looking to upset the big names.
Kilkenny’s Jimmy Bolger went close in Carne last year and he gave himself another fighting chance when he took advantage of the benign early conditions with a moving day 67 to lie four shots back on two-under.
Joining him in a share of fifth place is Neil O’Briain of Roganstown and Limerick’s Tim Rice who can never be counted out of the big occasion.
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