John Murphy in mix but Paul O’Hanlon has eyes for back-to-back wins

Kinsale’s John Murphy will be hoping for some help from the leaders as he goes into the final round six shots off the lead in the East of Ireland Amateur Open at County Louth.

The 18-year-old Maynooth University talent fired six birdies in a one-under par 71 to share fourth place on one-over par with Grange’s Robbie Pierse and Hilton Templepatrick’s Reece Black as Dun Laoghaire’s Colin Woodroofe holed a series of unlikely par putts for a 72 to lead on five-under par.

Woodroofe, 22, has a slim, two-stroke lead over Carton House’s Paul O’Hanlon, who is trying to become the first back-to-back winner of the “East” for 24 years.