Paul Dunne will back driver after making the cut

Just five Irish golfers are left standing heading into the weekend after a rough second day at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open as nine of their compatriots packed the bags and departed Ballyliffin.

Paul Dunne spent the afternoon hovering around a moving cutline but eventually fell the right side at one over par to join Shane Lowry and qualifier Simon Thornton, who start the third round best placed at two under, Rory McIlroy on one under and Graeme McDowell on level par.