Rory McIlroy is on course to win the Irish Open for the first time after edging two shots ahead at the top of the leaderboard on day three of the competition.

The 27-year-old added a second round of 70 to his opening 67, leaving him a shot off the lead overnight which was shared by Danny Willett and Marc Warren.

McIlroy, who had missed the cut for his home event for the past three years, reached the summit for the first time with a two-putt birdie on the par-five fourth hole.

Willett had earlier missed from three feet for par on the second, opening the door for the Irishman to lead the way, but he did manage to level up again soon after.

Back-to-back bogeys on the sixth and seventh allowed McIlroy to move ahead once more, however, which remained the case when play was suspended due to the threat of lightning.