Michael Hoey and Colm Moriarty are leading the Irish charge at the halfway stage of European Challenge Tour's Allianz Golf Open de Toulouse.

It was a second round of contrasting fortunes for the Irish pair, with Hoey unable to continue the first round form that had helped him storm into the lead with a fantastic eight under par 64.

The Belfast man had to settle for a second round of two over 74, taking him back to six under for the tournament but only three shots behind leaders Michiel Bothma of South Africa and Germany's Christian Reimbold.

Moriarty, on the other had, charged up the leaderboard, from 56th position at the start of the day to a tie for seventh at the end thanks to a fine five under par 67.

The Athlone professional won on the third level Europro Tour last week and has taken a huge amount of confidence from that success.

Dubliner Stephen Browne is just one shot behind Moriarty after a second round of 70 took him to five under for the tournament, while Donegal's Michael McGeady is on two under going into the weekend action after his second consecutive 71.