Defending champion Padráig Harrington took a grip of the Ladbrokes.com Irish PGA Championship at the halfway mark, at The European Club to move into a three shots lead at one-over-par 143 after finishing his second round in darkness at 10.21pm.
He teed off before six o'clock in lashing rain on the 10th tee and, after making double-bogey at 11, he pencilled in six birdies in 11 holes from the 14th with a three-putt bogey, from 20 feet, at the fourth.
That left the holder and Open Champion three-under for his second round, one-over for the championship and three shots ahead of clubhouse leaders Eamonn Brady, Philip Walton and Robert Giles. In the third round today, Harrington partners Brady in the last match, teeing off at 12.30pm. Live scoring can be found here.
It has been a great week for Brady - nephew of football legend Liam Brady. On Monday he got confirmation of passing his final exams and after registration will be a fully qualified professional. As well, he is now full pro at Clontarf, a job that was waiting for him after qualification.
With that news behind him the six-footer bearded 33-year-old, who had a win on the Canadian Tour and two on the Europro circuit as well as some victories in Ireland, began the championship with a mission.
An eagle and two birdies were included in his afternoon second round 72 and he explained: "I want to get my own back on this course because last year I struggled; I was one of the guys at the tail end."
It has been a good week for Walton, too, having won the final qualifying round for the Open at West Lancashire on Tuesday before flying back to tee-up on Wednesday in the Ladbrokes.com Irish Championship. He had also to complete his first round yesterday morning and complained about feeling tired after posting his second 73 of the day.
"I got out of bed at 5 o'clock this morning so I'm a bit tired now and I hit a few bad shots coming in. I didn't putt well and missed from two-and-a-half feet on 15 and another lipped out at seven.
"I'd love to have a battle with Padráig over the weekend. It would be good for next week. It would tune me up and in fact would be good for both of us. This week and next week could give me a new lease of life. It would be a boost for my confidence."
Greenore head pro Robert Giles had two birdies in the afternoon as he matched his opening 73. He also had a two at the second hole but dropped shots at three, seven and 10 before making a four at the long 13th. The Yorkshireman's roller-coaster continued with bogey five at 15.
Peter Martin, on 11-over-153, has a bit of ground to make up but he will still remember his second round. At the 190-yards 14th hole the Riverside Academy pro popped his seven iron tee-shot right into the cup for his first ace - his fourth in all - in a professional tournament.
A total of 51 players made the cut which fell at 19-over-par 161 after the horrendous conditions and fog disruptions of the first day.