John Doran, the top seed at this week's Irish Close Championships at Donnybrook, sampled the power, resolve and subtlety of Barry Cowan only a fortnight before the hefty Englishman pushed Pete Sampras to the brink on Wimbledon's centre court last week.
"He beat me in a final set, but I thought I should have won, my game went off a little in that final set" said Doran. "I only missed Wimbledon by one place," he added.
Meanwhile the Irish under-18 champion, Nelson Boyle from Larne, went through in straight sets last night, beating Conor Fearon 6-3, 6-1. Stewart Doyle, a former Junior prospect, was in good form when ousting Marcus Joyce 6-0, 6-1.
While Doran and Peter Clarke are rightly seeded to meet in Saturday's final, they can expect huge opposition from the young guns - Conor Niland and Stephen Nugent, seeded three and four respectively.
The women's top seed Elsa O'Riain had no difficulty in dismantling the game of Jenny Dolan 6-0, 6-1. The Cork teenager is regaining her best form and could reclaim the title but she will be hard put to do so by Limerick's experienced Gina Niland, winner of this event on a number occasions.
Mens singles 1st round: J O'Gorman bt J W Devine 7-5, 6-2; H Henry bt B Condren 6-3, 7-6; G Kilduff bt F Brennan 6-1, 6-0; S Doyle bt M Joyce 6-0, 6-1; N Boyle bt C Fearon 6-3, 6-1; Womens singles 1st round: E O'Riain bt J Dolan 6-0, 6-1; A-M Nulty bt E Dunne 6-1, 6-1; S Griffiths bt L Molloy 6-0, 6-0; A Kieran bt S Campbell 6-1, 1-6, 6-4; S Perkins bt N Foley w.o.; J Johnston bt S Sheppard w.o.; A-M Hogan bt N Cox 6-0, 6-0.
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