Fisher halts Harrington charge at Irish Open

From three behind overnight, Harrington might have thought a closing seven-under-par 64 would seal his national title for the second time in four years.

But Fisher, having lost the six-stroke lead he held in the third round, responded with a 65 to take his fourth European Tour title by two.

The 29-year-old's 266 aggregate, 18-under par, matched the tournament record set nine years ago by Colin Montgomerie - and with it Fisher climbs from 13th to sixth in the race for places in Montgomerie's Ryder Cup side.

"It just feels great to come out on top against such a world-class field," said Fisher after receiving the trophy and the 415,973 first prize.

"I could hear the roars and knew Padraig was making a charge. I just tried to stay patient and this is what we play for - we want to give ourselves a chance and I am no different.

"I don't know if I have done enough (to clinch a Ryder Cup debut] yet, but there are two more big weeks coming up and I just want to show Monty I am playing well."

The WGC Bridgestone Invitational starts on Thursday in Akron, Ohio, and after that comes the final major of the season, the US PGA, at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

Harrington has not won for two years and remains outside the all-important top nine on the points table, but a cheque for 277,312 leaves him far nearer to it than he was. The Dubliner produced some spectacular shots and rated his up and down from a plugged lie in a bunker at the 12th "one of the best ever for me".

He added: "Overall I had a lot of chances. I've been comfortable with my game for a while, but I just have to trust it a little more. I should not get so stressed - I just have to let it happen a bit more."

Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Englishman Chris Wood shared third place on a day when there were 14 changes at the top of the leaderboard.

Wood, Australian Richard Green and Italian Francesco Molinari had an early taste of it, as did Harrington after four birdies in his first seven holes.

But Fisher, round in a course-record 61 on Friday, sank an 18-foot eagle putt at the seventh, holed from similar range on the ninth and then started for home with an eight iron to four feet.

That put him three clear, but it was game on again when Harrington birdied the 15th and made a ten-foot eagle attempt at the 519-yard 16th.

Fisher had the same two holes to come, though, birdied them both and then to his immense relief saved par from eight feet on the next after giving his first putt far too much pace.

"Making four there was huge," he stated. "If I had come up the last only one ahead it might have been a different story."

Molinari's slide from second to eighth with a 72 could cost him dear in the last month of Ryder Cup qualifying - he drops from seventh to eighth in the table. Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, already safely in the team, were 31st and 35th, but twice US Tour winner Justin Rose still has a lot of ground to make up after taking only 44th place.

Richie Ramsay finished top of the Scots, in a share of ninth, after matching Harrington's round of the final day with a 64 to end on nine-under.

Paul Lawrie and David Drysdale also finished strongly with rounds of 67 for a share of 14th place on seven-under.

Stephen Gallacher and Peter Whiteford finished on four-under and three-under respectively, while Steven O'Hara and Alastair Forsyth endured disappointing final rounds, the latter carding seven-over on what was the worst round of the day.