Michael McGeady and Walker Cup start Gavin Moynihan fired 68s in the second round of the European Tour Qualifying School First Stage Section C events in France and Portugal to move one step closer to October's Second Stage.

North West man McGeady shot a three under 68 at Golf D'Hardelot near Boulogne to move up 10 spots to tied fifth on three under at a venue where the top 24 and ties go on to one of the four Second Stage events in Spain.

The Derry man in three shots behind Julien Foret of France at a venue where Javier Ballesteros, son of Severiano, is tied 21st on one under. Golf d'Hardelot scores

Moynihan had to dig deep and birdie three of his last four holes to post a 72 on Tuesday. But he made a lightning start at Ribagolfe near Lisbon on Wednesday, running up three birdies in a row from the second and two more back to back at the seventh and eighth to get to five under.

He bogeyed the ninth and 15th against a solitary birdie at the 13th, but a four under 68 was still good enough to jump 30 places up the leaderboard to tied 15th, just inside the top 22 and ties who qualify. Ribagolfe scores

Ballyliffin's Brendan McCarroll also had a good day, carding a 70 to move to within a stroke of the cut line on three under in a share of 24th.

Limerick's Tim Rice (71-72) is tied 40th on one under with David Carey 80th (76-75) on seven over and Jonathan Mallon (79-76) tied 92nd on 11 over.