Home fans hope for Macs attack

THEY will not be reduced to a supporting role by any means in today’s third round, but Rory McIlory and Graeme McDowell will start their day trailing the four leading Irishmen in this Irish Open, presented by Discover Ireland, field.

Michael Hoey, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane and amateur Paul Cutler will lead the home challenge at Killarney, reaching the halfway point at six under par, four shots off the pace set by leader Marcel Siem.

McDowell and McIlroy are two shots further back but at least, for the sake of the tournament as much as their own objectives, they are into the weekend shake-up, their afternoon rounds of 66 and 68 respectively returning some lustre to the event following the early exits for Major-winning brethren Darren Clarke and Pádraig Harrington.