Challenge Tour: Ireland's Michael McDermott said he took inspiration from compatriot Pádraig Harrington as he shot a superb opening eight-under-par 64 to take the early lead at the Challenge of Ireland presented by Glasson.

McDermott honed his skills at Stackstown Golf Club where the double British Open Champion also perfected his game and some of Harrington's magic seemed to have rubbed off on the 28-year-old, who carded nine birdies and just the one bogey at Glasson Golf Hotel and Country Club in Athlone.

He opened the Challenge Tour event with four successive birdies before picking up another two shots on the sixth and seventh - after narrowly missing a birdie putt on five - in a superb front nine that saw him reach the turn in just 30 strokes. He then birdied the 10th hole but carded his first bogey on the 12th before picking up two more shots on the 14th and 17th.

McDermott admitted that Harrington, whose elder brother Tadhg is an occasional caddie for him, had been a big influence on his game and that his recent defence at Birkdale had provided further inspiration.

He said: "It was great to see Pádraig win at The Open. It was fantastic that he backed up his win last year and did it again. Pádraig was great with the young lads at Stackstown. He gave me lots of advice when I was younger. I was talking to Tadhg during the week and wished Pádraig well.

"When I was a kid Pádraig was the top amateur in the country. One of the first things he said to me was when I was hitting 30 yards pitch shots and he would ask how far it was to where I was pitching to. I said 'I didn't know'. He said 'you've got to know exactly how far you are hitting it'. So he gave me lots of little bits of advice. He was a bit of an inspiration when we were kids. It's great to see what he's done."

McDermott, who is aiming for a top 10 finish this week to secure a place in the field for the Lexus Open in Norway next week, said he had considered the possibility of shooting an even better first round score at one point during the front nine.

"Shooting a 59 did cross my mind but it was a long way away," he said. "I suppose it did after the seventh but there was an awful long way to go. I went close on eight and thought I'd love to go through on 29. It was my best round of the season."

Argentine Estanislao Goya is just one shot behind McDermott after recovering from a bogey on the first hole to card a seven under par round of 65, which included an eagle three on the 14th hole.

Scot Richie Ramsay is a shot further adrift on six under par while Glasson touring pro Colm Moriarty carded a five under par 67 on his home course.

He said: "This could be the week for me. I'm going in the right direction and my short game is improving. Although I practice here I don't play on the course that much but it is nice to have a tournament here."