Lorenzo Gagli produced a magnificent start to his second round at The Irish Open to join Grégory Bourdy in a share of the lead.

Having opened with a four under par 68, the Italian had seven birdies in his first 11 holes on returning to Royal Portrush and with only one bogey moved to ten under par.

Frenchman Bourdy only kept a share of the lead he enjoyed overnight with Jeev Milkha Singh by starting well himself – the three-time European Tour winner eagling the long second and birdieing the third.

Gagli’s run was all the more impressive given that after finishing 49th on The Race to Dubai in his rookie season last year, the 26 year old had not finished better than 35th this campaign.

Gagli and Bourdy led by two from Finn Mikko Ilonen and Scotland’s Gary Orr, with Singh amongst the later starters.

Meanwhile Rory McIlroy made just the start he was hoping for after resuming in joint 53rd place.

Birdies at two of his first three holes lifted the World Number Two, who has missed four of his last five halfway cuts, up into a tie for 21st on four under par.

This is McIlroy's final tournament before The Open Championship in three weeks and he was back on the course where he shot an amazing record 61 as a 16 year old.

Open Champion Darren Clarke boosted his hopes of making a first cut of the season when he also birdied the long tenth - his first of the day - to improve to two under and when he added a two on the short 14th he stood in a share of 34th place on three under. The top 65 and ties go through to the final 36 holes.

McIlroy bogeyed the short 14th, but had his third birdie of the day two holes later and turned in a two under 34 – by then six behind.

Clarke's third birdie came on the 15th, but after a back-nine 33 he bogeyed the first to be three under and joint 38th.