Australian left-hander Richard Green led the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland on his own when he sank a four foot birdie putt on the second hole of his final round at Killarney.

Green had been part of a three-way tie overnight with England's David Howell and Simon Dyson, but while Dyson parred the first three holes, Howell hit his opening drive onto the beach by Lough Leane and, after taking a penalty drop, bogeyed.

It put the former Ryder Cup star in third place with Scot Stephen Gallacher and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, while defending champion Ross Fisher was on the same ten under par mark following birdies at the second and third but a bogey at the next.

Fisher could be excused for having his mind elsewhere. His baby son Harry, with him in Ireland, was taken to hospital on Saturday after falling ill and was kept in overnight for observation.

Green bogeyed the fourth, but was back in sole possession of top spot after a two at the 211 yard sixth.

He was 12 under, with Dyson and Wiesberger one behind and then Howell two back with Fisher, Spain's Ignacio Garrido and Dane Søren Hansen.

Green also birdied the seventh and ninth to turn in 32, but he was caught when Dyson, out in 34 after grabbing his first birdie of the day on the eighth, started for home with two more.

On 14 under they were two in front of Howell, who birdied the ninth and tenth as the action hotted up.

Dyson's burst came to an end when he missed a six foot birdie putt on the 12th, but worse was to come when he three-putted the next, lipping out from four feet.

It left Green with a one-shot advantage again as he started for home with three pars in a row.

It looked between them, though, as the best of the rest were two further back.

Dyson was on in two at the long 16th, and by two-putting from 25 feet he drew level with Green again on 14 under.

The Melbourne golfer, playing in the group behind, still had the hole to come, however.

Green hit an even better shot onto the 16th, but he missed a ten foot eagle chance and although he tapped in for birdie to go one ahead once more there was still work to be done.