THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD GB&Ire unless stated -9 Nick Dougherty -7 Oliver Wilson, David Howell -5 Jose-Felipe Lima (Por), Andrew McLardy (SA), Stephen Dodd -3 Philip Golding, Angel Cabrera (Arg), Padraig Harrington, Titch Moore (SA), Jose Maria Olazabal (Spa), Pelle Edberg (Swe)

Dougherty fired a 67 in the third round at Carton House to move to nine under and is two shots ahead of David Howell and tour rookie Oliver Wilson.

Former Walker Cup man Wilson tied the course record of 66 set earlier in the day by South Africa's Titch Moore.

Padraig Harrington shot a 68 but is six shots behind Dougherty, while Darren Clarke fired a 69 for two under.

Dougherty hit six birdies in his five-under-par round, while four birdies in five holes around the turn was the key to Howell's 69 - although the Ryder Cup star bravely holed a 20-footer for par on the final green.

Overnight leader Stephen Dodd shot a level-par 72 which leaves him joint fourth on five under with Jose-Felipe Lima and South Africa's Andrew McLardy.

Jose Maria Olazabal hit a 68 to move alongside Moore on three under but Paul McGinley suffered a wrist injury during his round and dropped three shots on the back nine to finish on one under.

Colin Montgomerie, the course designer, dropped out of contention by hitting a 75 to slip to joint-49th on three over.

The 22-year-old Dougherty, who claimed his first tour win in Singapore in January, was delighted with his round of 67.

"It was a good round on this course," he said.

"I got away with the weather a bit today and I was able to take advantage of it."