Australian hopes to lead from start-to-finish heading into final day of Irish Open at county Kilkenny

Australia’s Lucas Herbert goes into the final day at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at the Mount Juliet Estate in Thomastown, where he has been all weekend – atop the leaderboard.

It was a day when the Irish players, Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell saw their chances fizzle out, while Cormac Sharvin spearheads the Irish challenge eight shots of the lead albeit.

25-year-old Australian Lucas Herbert shot a two-under round to push his lead out to 15-under.

He is one ahead of American Johannes Veerman, who finds himself back in second place, the same as where he finished after the first round.

Two shots back in third is South African Justin Harding, who carded the round of the day – a seven-under par round of 65.

Leader Lucas Herbert will be the last man to tee off today at 13.10.