Ryder Cup hopeful Shane Lowry kept his chances alive of playing for Europe with a three-under 69 that kept him within three shots of BMW PGA Championship leader Francesco Laporta.
The Irishman sank a terrific birdie putt on the 18th to conclude his third round at Wentworth.
However, Lowry's mind was more on this afternoon's All-Ireland final as he cut his post-round interview short: "I'm going home now to watch the All-Ireland football final first. I’m rushing out of here, it’s on at five o’clock. "Can I just say one thing? Mayo for Sam."
It wasn't Mayo's weekend but it could yet be Offaly's.
Bernd Wiesberger's tie for seventh meant he was on course to overtake Rory McIlroy in the European points list, with McIlroy therefore qualifying from the world points list instead.
That would knock former Open champion Lowry out of the team, although Lowry can knock Lee Westwood out instead with a top-eight finish or better, depending on Westwood’s result.
With Westwood in a tie for 43rd, Lowry was in the team when he played his first 14 holes in three under par, out of it when he bogeyed the 15th and then back in it with a birdie on the 18th.
But as more players finished and pushed Lowry into a three-way tie for seventh, Westwood edged back in front by just 2.34 points.
Whoever misses out on Sunday evening will join the likes of Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose in vying for one of Harrington's three wild cards, although Rose – who is five off the lead – can still qualify automatically with a win.
Italy's Laporta shot three birdies and an eagle en route to a solid three-under 69 that gave him a one-shot lead over Englishman Laurie Canter who had a mixed day, finishing with a two-under 70.
Overnight leader Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand endured a difficult day on the greens, getting off to a horrid start with bogeys on the second and the third. After a series of pars, he again bogeyed the 18th after finding the water, shooting a two-over 74 that left him four shots off the pace.
Lowry and Harrington are the firmest of friends, but Lowry said: "He's not saying much this week actually. He’s been pretty quiet. It’s the first tournament we’ve played together in years that we haven’t had dinner together.
"I imagine the refresh button on his phone is nearly broken at the minute looking at the team and the permutations and what’s happened.
"I think no matter what happens with the tournament, if I’m named on that team at half seven Sunday evening I’ll be the happiest man in Ireland going home.
"This tournament has been my favourite tournament to come play in on the European Tour since I came here 11 years ago. I want to win this tournament. This is our major and this is our flagship event and to have this title beside my name would be pretty cool.
"I want to go out and win the tournament but obviously I want to be on that team as well. I feel like I had a great chance to make the team in 2016 and threw that away.
"Whereas the last few months I fought as hard as I could and went out every day and tried my best and thankfully it’s been good. Who knows whether it will be good enough?"
