Clarke gains ground at Irish Open

Darren Clarke carded a 69 in the second round at Adare Manor

Darren Clarke moved up the Irish Open leaderboard with a three-under-par 69 in his second round at Adare Manor.

Clarke lies three under at halfway, three shots behind leader Michael Lorenzo-Vera of France.

Rory McIlroy is two under after a 72 while Paul McGinley fired a 69 to lie two under, one shot ahead of Padraig Harrington, who carded a 71.

Graeme McDowell missed the cut after a 75 left him five over - NI pair Damian Mooney and Michael Hoey are also out.

Amateur player Mooney finished six over after a 75 and Hoey had a 77 to exit the tournament on seven over.

Gary Murphy (level) and Peter Lawrie (+2) both made the cut mark, which came at four over.

Damien McGrane (+4), Pat Murray (+6), Mark Staunton (+7) and Colm Moriarty (+8) missed the cut.

Fellow Irishmen David Higgins (+12), Brendan McGovern (+12), Peter Martin (+13), Peter O'Keeffe (+14), Glen Robinson (+15), Leslie Walker (+15), Michael Lavelle (+18) and Eamonn Brady (+21) also failed to qualify for the weekend.