Irish challenge falters as Seamus Power slips down leaderboard at Mount Juliet.

The chances of a home winner at the 2022 Horizon Irish Open appear all but over as Seamus Power endured a disastrous third round that saw him fall outside the top 50, while Poland's Adrian Meronk will carry a one-shot lead into the final round at Mount Juliet.

In wet conditions, Power carded a 77, the second highest round of the day, with Kazuki Higa going one shot worse as scoring remained mostly low.

Power had started the round on eight-under and just three strokes off the lead, but his third round was delayed due to a medical emergency in the crowd.

When he did get going, the Waterford man found the conditions tough to excel in, with one birdie – at 13 – being accompanied by four bogeys and a double bogey at 15.

FULL LEADERBOARD

It means that it’s Shane Lowry, who rattled off four closing birdies on Friday to ensure that he was around for the weekend, who will lead the Irish charge in the fourth round.

The Offaly man hit a 68 to move to seven-under, seven strokes off top spot.

Birdies at the fifth, seventh and eighth had him moving along nicely on the front nine, with further shots picked up at the 10th and 17th. There was one blemish on his card though, as he dropped a shot at the par-four 16th.

Padraig Harrington is a further three shots back after carding a second consecutive 71 while Niall Kearney is on two-under-par after a round of 72.

Leader Meronk carded a 68 to move to 14-under, one shot ahead of Jack Senior, Fabrizio Zanotti and Jorge Campillo heading into Sunday’s action.