Only three players managed to finish under par at the halfway stage in the Irish PGA Championship with, as expected, Padráig Harrington out in front and looking likely to storm to his fourth national title. In super sunshine, at The European Club, Harrington posted a 68 to be five-under and coasting nicely
The only other players in the red are Headfort Club professional Brendan McGovern and David Higgins with Noel Fox on regulation 142 and very much in the mix.
Harrington teed off for the second round at the 10th and pencilled in three birdies to the turn, hitting the green at the long 13th hole in two blows, making a two at the short 14th and setting up a three at the 18th with a seven iron to a few feet.
Another birdie flew at the par four fifth holes as the World No.10 dipped to six-under-par for the tournament but he slipped back when missing he eighth green right and failing to get up and down.
However, he did make a great recovery at the last when he was short on a hillock but made his four for a round of 68 and a firm tournament lead.
"This is a twofold mission for me this week - I'm trying 100 per cent to win the championship again and it's great preparation for Carnoustie," he said.
"The crowds bring me back to my amateur days because they are in so close.
On the tour you don't have that closeness with the crowds. This is an occasion when I miss my father as he would have been here with those crowds if he hadn't been caddying for someone."
Brendan McGovern is playing his best golf of the season and he posted a 70 yesterday to be just two strokes behind Harrington with whom he'll play in the third round. McGovern made a great recovery after suffering bogey at the 16th - his eighth hole - and double-bogey six at the next where he lost a ball off the tee.
Those mistakes wiped out birdies at the 13th and 14th holes but he got back firmly on track with a two at the 6th where he rifled a six iron to six inches and a three at the last where he got down from 15 feet.
David Higgins pencilled in three birdies in his 71 for two-under and will partner Noel Fox who carded just two birdies in his 72 for level par 142.
The cut was made at 14-over-par 156 with 50 players surviving for the last two rounds.