O'Malley leads Irish Open

Peter O'Malley took the early clubhouse lead on the second day of the Murphy's Irish Open.

He added a 67 to his opening 66, for a halfway total of nine-under-par 133.

The Australian picked up five birdies to take a one-shot lead over Carl Petersson, with Mark Pilkington and Des Smyth one shot further back on 135.

Petersson did not drop a shot in a second consecutive 67, picking up birdies on three of the par-fives and another at the par-four first hole.

Pilkington made his move with a run of five birdies in six holes midway through his round.

Smyth picked up three shots to move to seven-under, adding four birdies to yesterday's seven in another impressive display.

Of the other overnight leaders, Fred Funk double bogeyed the 12th hole, his third, but regained the shots with an eagle at the fourth and also the

birdied the long fifth to move to six-under with three to play.

Eduardo Romero maintained his overnight position of five-under-par also with three to play, while Nick Dougherty and Joakim Haeggman were among the afternoon starters, as was defending champion Colin Montgomerie, who was four-under-par after an opening 67.