Irish duo John Murphy and Conor Purcell contending for Irish Challenge

CONTENDING: John Murphy will play in the final group on Saturday at the Irish Challenge at the K Club. Pic: Niall O'Shea

Irish hopefuls John Murphy and Conor Purcell are hoping the home crowd can push them all the way to victory after they surged into contention for the €250,000 Irish Challenge at The K Club.

While Simon Thornton won at St Omer in 2013, an Irish-born player has not won a Challenge Tour event since Michael Hoey captured the Madeira Islands Open in 2011.