Challenge Tour, European TourBrian KeoghNovember 07, 2016European Tour Qualifying School, Gary Hurley, Kevin Phelan, Ruaidhri McGee, Niall KearneyComment

Q-School: Just two of 12 Irish poised to progress to Final Stage

Challenge Tour, European TourBrian KeoghNovember 07, 2016European Tour Qualifying School, Gary Hurley, Kevin Phelan, Ruaidhri McGee, Niall KearneyComment

AVIEMORE, SCOTLAND - JUNE 26: Ruaidhri Mcgee of Ireland tees off at the third on day one of the 2014 Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by MacDonald Hotels & Resorts at Spey Valley Golf Courseon June 26, 2014 in Aviemore, Scotland.  (Photo by … — AVIEMORE, SCOTLAND - JUNE 26: Ruaidhri Mcgee of Ireland tees off at the third on day one of the 2014 Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by MacDonald Hotels & Resorts at Spey Valley Golf Courseon June 26, 2014 in Aviemore, Scotland. (Photo by Harry Engels/Getty Images)

Ruaidhri McGee rallied with a super 67 but West Waterford's Gary Hurley and Mount Juliet's Kevin Phelan are the only Irish players inside the qualifying places heading into the fourth and final round of the Second Stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain.

With just 17 players to progress from each of the four venues, joint overnight leader Hurley shot a four over 75 at Las Colinas Golf & Country Club in Alicante and fell to tied 11th on five under.

Hurley still has some wriggle room but Phelan is tied for 14th on three under after a two over 73 in round three while Jonny Caldwell is out having joined Stephen Grant (who withdrew on Saturday) on the list of WDs after an 81.

Niall Kearney is just a shot outside the mark at Campo de Golf El Saler in Valencia where a level par 72 left him tied 18th on three under in the race to make it to next week's Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort in Catalonia.

Cormac Sharvin shot a second successive 73 just is just two shots outside 17th place in joint 25th on two under while Chris Selfridge looks out for the count on five over.

At Lumine Golf and Beach Club in Tarragona, McGee revived his hopes with six birdies in a four under 67 that left him tied 22nd on four under, just two shots outside the top 17.

But it was a bad day for Limerick's Tim Rice whose five over 76 means he needs a round in the mid-60s to progress while Declan Loftus' brave race is run after a a 75 for eight over.

At Panoramica Golf & Sport Resort in Castellón, Headfort's Brian Casey is five shots outside the top 17 on two under after rounds of 71, 73 and 70.