Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley's perplexing dip in results on the European Tour continued yesterday as both missed the cut again, fading out of the Spanish Open Harrington won two years ago.

But while they found themselves overshadowed by Australian youngsters Robert Allenby and Greg Chalmers, who lead the field by three strokes after moving jointly to 14-under-par on another low-scoring day, two Irish veterans are still on duty at El Prat.

One of them is 45-year-old Des Smyth, who won the Sanyo Open at this course in 1983, lying six-under-par and eight shots off the lead after a second three-underpar 69 which could have been much better.

The other is 45-year-old Eamonn Darcy, who only put a foot wrong twice yesterday and paid for that dearly as he slid back behind his compatriot Smyth with a 71.

As well as Harrington, missing the cut agonisingly by one stroke after a 74 for three-under, and McGinley, two-under with a 70, coming home early, there were rearranged flights back for Raymond Burns and Philip Walton as well. Burns battled bravely for a 69 but missed by three, while Walton had to settle for a second 72 and level-par.

Harrington's failure was more than a surprise. "I'm quite happy with my game but a couple of shots went wrong at the wrong time and it wasn't to be this week. It's not the end of the world because everyone misses cuts," he said.

On the bright side, Smyth and Darcy carry the flag today. Smyth said: "I let a golden opportunity of a good score get away. But I have to be delighted at making the weekend because I was starting to worry a bit about my game after such a good start to the season. I don't think the three-week break did me any good."

Darcy trails him by a stroke after two double-bogeys blighted his day. "I got a real kick in the teeth today," he said, "because I played some real solid golf. The 16th was terrible. We had to wait an age before the crowd would settle and when I stood up to hit my ball I cut it badly."