Kinsale’s Eoghan Cassidy broke 70 in Ballybunion today as he took advantage of better weather conditions.  The youngster shot a 69 which included five birdies after a double bogey on the fifth.  Cassidy came home in 32 strokes thanks to three birdies in is last five holes.  The impressive round, the second lowest of the day, saw him jump from 36th place up to 12th place.  The teenager also found a sum of money on the course which he handed in to the tournament committee at the end of his round.

Fionn Hickey carded a second successive 76 to drop back to a tie for third, although the Muskerry golfer is now eight shots off the lead.  Seapoint’s Dylan Keating was dialled in today, shooting a very impressive 65 to take the lead.  With the wind and rain gone, Ballybunion’s Cashen course was a fair test for the field today, and Keating delivered.  He was four under at the halyway stage, thanks to birdies on the first and eight, and an eagle  on the 9th to go out in 33 strokes.  He dropped a shot on the 10th but recovered on the way home with four birdies, that meant he signed for a seven under par round of 65.  Keating won the Irish Boys last year, and represented Ireland at the Boys Home Intnernationals earlier this year.  His second round was 14 strokes better that his opening 79 in yesterday’s testing conditions.

The final round gets underway tomorrow at 8am.