Just six of the 21 Irish challengers made the three over par cut.

Check out how your favourite Irish pro got on at Adare Manor.

(* started at the 10th)

-3 Darren Clarke* (72-69)
Refused to take back his criticism of the course set up. Holed a few putts and was pleased to break 70 after some erratic ball-striking.

-2 72 Rory McIlroy (70-72)
Recovered well from a bogey at the second and a double bogey at the third to shoot levelpar. Just four behind, he is well in the hunt for his first title.

-2 Paul McGinley* (73-69)
Made an excellent start but threw away the chance to shoot a 66 by missing three short putts on the back nine.

-1 Padraig Harrington (72-71)
The defending champion holed virtually nothing with the putter again but still lurks dangerously. Missed just three greens all day.

Level Gary Murphy* (74-70)
Timely boost for the Kilkenny man, who had missed five of his last six cuts. Needs a good week to boost his confidence.

+2 Peter Lawrie* (71-75)
Drove the ball poorly and lacked the power to muscle the ball out of the rough. Still did enough to make the cut with ease.

CUT

+4 Damien McGrane* (76-72)
Another bad day on the greens for the Kells man. He said: “I couldn’t buy a putt, but the rest of my game was excellent.”

+5 Graeme McDowell (74-75)
Struggling with his swing, he hit just five fairways and took 33 putts to miss the cut by two shots. He said: “There’s some rust on my game and I drove it terribly.”

+6 Damian Mooney (75-75)
Another bottle for champers for an Irishman as Mooney holed his 147-yard wedge on the 481-yard eighth for an amazing eagle two. It still wasn’t enough to make the cut.

+6 Pat Murray* (76-74)
No cigar for the Limerick amateur, who picked up a bottle of bubbly for his eagle three on the 18th. Battled well again but failed to match last year’s performance, when he made the cut.

+7 Michael Hoey* (74-77)
Three-over with eight to play, Hoey’s tournament ended when he dropped four shots in three holes from the 12th.

+7 Mark Staunton (77-74)
Just four shots outside the cut mark, it was a positive performance for the Ballinasloe club professional ahead of next week’s BMW PGA championship at Wentworth.

+8 Colm Moriarty (72-80)
A nightmare start sent the Glasson man tumbling out. Turned five over and never recovered.

+12 David Higgins* (80-76)
Started the day by holing a five-wood from 205 yards from the rough for an eagle two at the 10th. Won a bottle of champagne for his trouble but missed the cut.

+12 Brendan McGovern (79-77)
No birdies for the Headfort pro on a course that requires long hitting. Will be hoping for better in July’s Irish PGA.

+13 Peter Martin* (76-81)
Ran up a quadruple bogey eight at the 17th, his eighth, and slipped away on the back nine.

+14 Peter O’Keeffe (79-79)
Kept the double bogeys off his card but one birdie in two days wasn’t enough to ensure his survival.

+15 Glen Robinson (80-79)
Kept a six off his card but made too many fives with seven bogeys and just two birdies ensuring his exit.

+15 Leslie Walker* (80-79)
Making up the numbers after his opening 80, he will be glad to see the back of the lakeside seventh after dropping five shots there in two days.

+18 Michael Lavelle (81-81)
Baptism of fire for the Belmullett man on his professional debut. Will be hoping for better as he tackles the PGA Europro Tour this summer.

+21 Eamonn Brady (85-80)
After just two competitive rounds this year, it was mission impossible for the Clontarf club pro.