GOLF/Irish Open: Halfway through the journey, with the ultimate destination that of the Nissan Irish Open title, those players with tired limbs and jaded minds who safely negotiated the initial process of elimination at the Montgomerie Course at Carton House yesterday could finally, and collectively, heave a sigh of relief and prepare for the next phase of what Colin Montgomerie unapologetically described as "a severe test of golf".

While a Welsh hue developed over proceedings, with Stephen Dodd assuming the 36-holes lead on five-under-par 139, just a shot clear of a four-strong chasing group, Ryder Cup player Paul McGinley emerged as the leader of the home challengers in their quest to end a 23-year famine since John O'Leary was the last Irishman to annex the crown.

It was a thoroughly eventful day for McGinley, but one that ended with him right in the thick of the hunt.

Despite losing a ball off his drive at one juncture of his second round - "Imagine that happening in Ireland, of all places," remarked McGinley, of an incident that occurred on the 15th, his sixth hole - the Dubliner remained mentally tough and finished with a 69 for 141. All of which only served to whet his appetite for the challenge ahead.

"I'd love to have the opportunity of coming down the last three or four holes in the final round and be in contention," said McGinley. "I'd love it. In a situation like that, sometimes you win and sometimes you don't . . . . but the main thing is to be there, to be in with a shout. That's my intention, I want to be there."

McGinley's quest won't be that of a lone ranger, though. In all, eight Irish players - McGinley (-3), Colm Moriarty (-1), Darren Clarke (+1), Padraig Harrington (+1), Peter Lawrie (+1), Gary Murphy (+1), Jimmy Bolger (+2) and David Higgins (+4) - survived the cut, which fell on four-over-par 148.

Clarke had manoeuvred his way to within a shot of the lead in the early stages of his second round, birdieing two of the opening four holes, only to be upset by a photographer snapping too soon as he attempted to play from a bunker on the fifth and further words were exchanged with the cameraman on the sixth tee. Later, Clarke claimed the altercation "didn't make a major difference . . . I just hit some poor shots. I feel as if I am doing all the right things but that I'm taking two steps forward and three steps back. I can't quite string it all together, for whatever reason."

Yet, Clarke's not a million miles away from the lead.