Bland makes move

English rookie Richard Bland moved to within a shot of overnight leader Peter O’Malley with three holes of his third round to play.

The 30-year-old, who has yet to register a top-10 finish in his debut season, started the day seven shots off the lead but he raced to the turn in 31 helped by a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth.

Bland picked up his sixth shot of the round at the par-five 10th and parred the next five holes to remain at eight-under.

Meanwhile, early starters Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell gave the home fans plenty to cheer.

Clarke needed a birdie at the 18th on Friday just to survive the halfway cut but having dropped a shot at the first, he picked up seven birdies for a 65 and a seven-under-par total.

‘‘I hit my irons fantastic. After I finished last night I sat down for 15 minutes then went to the range for an hour and worked on my iron play and it was really good today,’’ said Clarke.

Graeme McDowell, in only his second tournament as a professional, produced a brilliant birdie-birdie-eagle finish to match Clarke’s 65 and is also seven under.

The 22-year-old finished his amateur career as the top ranked collegiate player in America and having also just made the cut, he was first to tee off playing with a marker.

‘‘I played so good all day long. Trying to stay patient was hard out there. I gave myself a lot of chances but didn’t make them. I was getting frustrated.

‘‘I was really enjoying it out there by myself today. I got in a really good groove hitting good shots.’’

England’s Nick Dougherty, who shared the lead after the first round, also moved to seven-under with three holes of his round to play.

Latest leading positions in the third round of the Murphy’s Irish Open at Fota Island, Cork

(Gbr & Irl unless stated):

9 under - Peter O’Malley (Aus) (after 36 holes)

8 under - Richard Bland (49)

Alex Cejka (Ger) (36)

Colin Montgomerie (36)

Carl Pettersson (Swe) (36)

7 under - Graeme McDowell (54)

Darren Clarke (54)

Nick Dougherty (48)

Darren Fichardt (Rsa) (43)

Lee Westwood (36)

Joakim Haeggman (Swe) (36)

Richard S Johnson (Swe) (36)

Mark Pilkington (36)

Des Smyth (36)