Played on the same format of three players with two scores to count in each of the three rounds of the 54 holes event, Ireland is poised to add another title this year following success in the European Amateur Team Championship at Western Gailes in July.

Lowry, who shot a three under par 70 in the opening round, had five birdies, an eagle and one bogey in his second round 67, leads the individual table by one shot from England’s Chris Woods who also shot a second round 67 having had a first round of 71.

Kearney, who stepped in at the last moment to replace the injured Richard Kilpatrick, scored his second round of one under par 72. He had two birdies and one bogey in his round.

Ward produced a sensational finish to his second round. After a disappointing opening effort of 78, he was level par after fourteen holes and finished 2, 4,3,3 – birdie, birdie, par, eagle – for a four under par 69.

England are in third place at nine under par, followed by Denmark at eight under, with the reigning world champions, the Netherlands out of touch at eight over.

To follow the final round on Monday, log on to the Portuguese Golf Federation’s website (www.fpg.pt)

278: Ireland (S Lowry 70, 67; N Kearney 72.72; S Ward 78, 69)

282: Sweden (J Dantorp 67, 73; N Glans 74, 70; F Fihn72, 73)

283: England (C Woods 71, 67; B Evans 72, 73; B Parker 73, 74)

284: Denmark.

285: France, Austria.

288: Belgium, Wales

294: Finland

300: Netherlands

301: Iceland

303: Italy, Spain, Portugal.

Leading Individual Scores:

137: S Lowry (Ireland) 70, 67

138: C Woods (England) 71, 67

13: B Herbert (France) 70, 69

140: C Evans (Wales) 70, 70; J Dantorp (Swedne) 67, 73.

141; X Feyaerts (Belgium) 70, 71.

143: M Mayrhauser (Austria) 72, 71.

Other Irish Scores:

144: N Kearney 72, 72.

147: S Ward 77, 69