No birdie for McIlroy at the 14th.

Two birdies and two pars to finish and he won't be easily caught.

This is going down to the wire.

Can Hidalgo make a three?

Yes he surely can!

Tied for the lead. He's pumped up.

Angel Hidalgo plays a beauty into the 13th and he'll have around six feet to join Rory McIlroy at the summit.

Remember, the 27-year-old held off Jon Rahm to win the Spanish Open last year so he'll be loving this.

Rory McIlroy can't believe it!

His birdie putt at the 13th does a full 360 and drops back into the cup!

How fine are the margins.

McIlroy leads the Irish Open!

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There's a lot happening but the progress of young Spaniard Angel Ayora has not gone unnoticed.

He's just one off the lead after a birdie at 16. Five under for the day. Not bad from the 20-year-old.

Adrien Saddier finds the bunker on the par-three 12th and can't make his par putt!

He drops out of that tie at the top, but there's still plenty of time for him to recover.

Rafael Cabrera-Bello has the chance to post the target and he's approaching the par-five 16th now after scrambling for par on 15.

A beauty from McIlroy off the tee at 13.

Now's the time to stick one in close.

Ohhh that's pretty good! He'll have around seven or eight feet for a birdie to take the lead.

Adrien Saddier and Angel Hidalgo both narrowly miss with their birdie tries at the 11th.

Still five locked at the top.

This needs someone to show some authority and lay down the gauntlet.

This feels like a big moment.

Clutch. In it goes - a critical par save for the home favourite.

McIlroy's hand comes off the club as he splashes out of the bunker.

Not a great effort and he's going to have a tester for par.

Huge.

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It's been seven years since the Irish Open was decided in a play-off. Russell Knox beat Ryan Fox at Ballyliffin in 2018.

I'd be surprised if we don't have one today.

Image source, Inpho

Par-three 12th. 175 yards.

Deary me. McIlroy completely airmails the green and he's in the bunker.

At least it's not the water, but a par's going to be a big ask from there.

Rory McIlroy leaves himself a 12-footer for birdie on the 11th but he overborrows and it's a frustrating par.

That was a good chance - and he knows it judging by the expression on his face.

Par fives for the final group at the 10th after a couple of missed birdie putts.

Who's going to take this by the scruff of the neck?

Joakim Lagergren keeps giving himself birdie chances.

And another slides by! He's denied a two at the 12th but he's still right there.

Speaking of things being demolished, McIlroy's just smoked his drive at the 11th. A bit of anger behind that one after the five on the previous hole.

The full treatment. A joy to watch.

Image source, Getty Images

Just demolished a chocolate bar.

Ready for this back nine.

Who can break out of this logjam at the top?

Joakim Lagergren nearly does! His birdie try at the 11th burns the left edge.

He can't believe it.

Can he find another from distance?

No, that was never enough. A weak effort truth be told.

The par-five 10th has yielded loads of birdies all week so this is going to feel like a big chance gone for the five-time major winner.