Perhaps the luckiest three-ball of this whole protracted saga that has been the weather-delayed Irish Open was match number 13 containing two Irishmen, Colm Moriarty and Damien McGrane, as they were the only group to have completed 72 holes yesterday.

When the klaxon sounded at midday - which ultimately ended play for the day - for yet another rain-delay, Moriarty, McGrane and England's David Dixon were on the middle of the 18th fairway preparing to play their approaches to the final green.

With the option to complete the hole, and the finish line in sight, there was never any danger the trio wouldn't opt to go on and complete their rounds. They did so with pars and on this occasion 13 proved to be the lucky number.

"It was survival of the fittest out there to be honest and I'm just delighted to have got in and finished," said Moriarty, who like McGrane, shot a gutsy closing 73 in appalling conditions for a three-over 291 aggregate.

"When Damien and I were walking up the 18th we had just been saying the course was unplayable as the greens and fairways were flooding."

After a bogey on the second McGrane managed to pick up a couple of birdies at the eighth and ninth to turn in one under 35.

A pair of bogeys followed at 10 and 11 before he steadied the ship to par the last seven holes. Moriarty's round contained three birdies and four bogeys.

"That's definitely the toughest I've played in as a professional. It reminded me more of my amateur days competing at Rosses Points or the St Andrews Links Trophy."

McGrane was in full agreement with Moriarty: "We got battered by the weather all week. I've played in this type of weather for a couple of days before, but we've had six days of it now.

"Still, I'm happy with my score in such difficult conditions. You had to work for every par and to get a couple of birdies was certainly a bonus."

As things stand Moriarty and McGrane are in a tie for 20th position, alongside Peter Lawrie who still has to two holes to play, which would earn the pair cheques worth just over €23,000.

"I played nicely and although I missed a few putts coming home, I'm happy with the week," added Moriarty who also picked-up a tidy cheque for €30,100 when he tied 13th in this event last year.

"It's back to Challenge Tour duty for me now. The thing I need to do now is get out here on the main tour full time. I'm comfortable in these surroundings and know I have the game to compete at this level."

Tournament favourite Padraig Harrington had dropped back to level par for the tournament after reaching the turn in two over 38.

Fellow Dubliner Stephen Browne was four over with three holes to play while Kerry's David Higgins had just birdied the par three third, his 12th, to be seven over when the klaxon sounded.