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Damian McGrane hold a share of 11th place and jeeps Martin Kaymer company signing for a 69.
"I did a lot of hanging on out there, holed three or four decent putts for par and then had a super finish," said McGrane.
It's a difficult course but I hit a lot of good tee shots as well," added McGrane, who tied third here in 2007 and enjoyed three other top-20 finishes at the French Open.
Gareth Maybin finished Friday with 68 strokes on the card.
Padraig Harrington bogeyed his closing holes and missed the weekend by two shots and notches up his eighth cut in 16 this year after a round of 73.
Peter Lawrie signed for a 77 and missed the cut.
The Dubliner was joined on the early departure by Simon Thornton, who was nine-over after a second round 74, David Higgins +13 after a 76 with Rookie Kevin Phelan + 14 after an 80 on Friday.
Paul McGinley missed the cut but had already withdrawn on Thursday morning with bursitis in his shoulder.
Overnight leaderKevin Stadler, son of Craig "Walrus" Stadler, celebrated Independence Day by claiming a three shot halfway lead in the Alstom Open de France, despite a shaky finish to his second round.
Stadler carded a flawless opening 64 at Le Golf National and did not drop his first shot of the tournament until his 32nd hole at the 2018 Ryder Cup venue.
But after bouncing back in style with birdies on the next two holes, the World Number 62 shanked his approach to the par five ninth - his final hole - to run up a double bogey seven.
"I just tried to get a little too much out of it," admitted Stadler, who had to settle for a round of 68. "I didn't have the best of lies and had to hit the shot perfectly. I got a little too steep on it and it came off the hosel and into the deep stuff.
"It was not exactly how I planned to finish the day but overall it was another good day so it's all good. I putted brilliantly the first couple of days. I got a little sloppy on my final nine today but other than that struck the ball very well as well, had a lot of chances and rolled in a lot of nice putts."
Stadler won his maiden US PGA Tour title in February and was half of the first father-son pairing to play in the same Masters Tournament in April with his father Craig, the 1982 champion.
The 34 year old finished joint eighth at Augusta National but that has been his only top-ten since winning in Phoenix and he added: "It's been a little rotten the last couple of months but it's starting to show some signs of form again and I've hit plenty of good shots the last couple of days.
"Hopefully I can do more of the same at the weekend, the putter keeps co-operating and I am looking forward to the last couple of days."
Stadler's nearest challenger is Parisian Victor Riu, whose only bogey in a round of 67 came on the 18th after finding a greenside bunker, with 2012 winner Marcel Siem two shots further back on five under after a 72.
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