Fellow Irishman Graeme McDowell ended Shane Lowry’s dream run handing the current Portugal Masters champion a 3 & 2 third round defeat in the WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship.

Lowry secured his place in the event by just 0.0002 of a World Ranking point and then delivered the first big upset of the $US 8.75m event in defeating current World No. 1 Rory McIlroy.

Lowry then bundled out Sweden’s Carl Petersson to set up an all-Irish third round showdown with McDowell.

Lowry got the start he wanted when he won the second hole with a birdie to go 1up but it was the only time the current World No. 68 was ahead against the 2010 US Open champion.

McDowell stamped his class winning the third hole with a par and then racing to 4up after nine holes.

They then halved the next five before Lowry captured the 14th with a par and then sealing the match when the duo pared the par three 16th to hand McDowell his 3 & 2 after earlier victories over Padraig Harrington (2up) and Alex Noren (1up after 20 holes).

While McDowell now advances to the last eight, Lowry should not be disappointed as he should move inside the top-50 when the World Rankings are adjusted tomorrow night, and if so, it will mean Lowry qualifying for next fortnight’s WGC – Cadillac Championship and the real likelihood also of earning an invitation to compete in this year’s Masters.