Clarke moves up the leaderboard in Killarney

Darren Clarke has moved up the leaderboard on day three of the 3 Irish Open in Killarney.

Clarke started brightly with a birdie at the first and another at the par five seventh in among his pars in the opening nine holes.

He then got another birdie on the first hole of the back nine but dropped a shot on the 12th as he heads the Irish challengers on eight under after 14.

Ross Fisher has extended his lead to 15 under after six. The Englishman has a five-shot lead at the moment.

Fisher began brightly, picking up a further shot with a birdie on the second to go 13 under while playing partner Molinari parred both.

The story of the day was Englishman Richard Bland whose 66 took him to seven under.

Bland, 275th in the world, had three bogeys and an impressive eight birdies to follow rounds of 69 and 71.

Rory McIlroy began well with successive opening birdies but a double bogey on the sixth undermined that strong start to leave him on six under after 11.

Paul McGinley lies on seven under after 11 as does Michael Hoey after 10 and Padraig Harrington after 8.

Defending champion Shane Lowry lies on six under after 16 while Damien McGrane is three under after 13.

Graeme McDowell finished on three under, following a round of 68.