The Ireland women's tennis team rounded off a brave, if unsuccessful, attempt to break into the Federation Cup big time with a 3-0 win over Iceland on Saturday. It was Ireland's third victory from five starts in their group. The Irish efforts in Turkey all week were again worthy of competition at this level but team captain Peter Lowther, not unexpectedly, takes the realistic view on the immediate future of Ireland's women's teams.

"Realistically we don't have a strong enough team to promote but every year we are there or thereabouts, always pressing for promotion but not quite making it. We are just about strong enough to gain promotion but we are certainly not strong enough to stay in the next group. I would imagine that if we were promoted we would be back again the next year," he says.

Being denied of players operating on a full-time basis is a primary militating factor and a notable problem as Lowther sees it.

"We need girls playing on a full-time basis so hopefully Yvonne Doyle can get on the circuit soon, she would obviously strengthen the team."

Lowther was always willing to give the four players at his disposal matches during the week's play in Turkey. Georgia had only to turn up and win one rubber against Estonia for the group honours on Saturday, a situation that enabled Lowther exercise his options against lowly Iceland. Yvonne Flynn was promoted to a singles spot and she made full use of the opportunity with a merciless display that sent her opponent Rakel Petursdottir reeling to a 6-1, 6-1 defeat. Flynn dominated with powerful penetrating forehand shots. Gina Niland also won inside the hour, beating Stefania Stefansdottir without dropping a game and losing very few points. The more familar the Irish girls became with the clay surface, the more effective their games became. Towards the latter part of her match, Niland grew in confidence to such a degree that she almost cheekily adopted an aggressive approach in the forecourt.

Aoife O'Neill was given another chance in doubles and struck up a winning partnership with the experienced Lesley O'Halloran to share in a 6-1, 6-1 demolition of Stefansdottir and Stella Christiansdottir.

"We were happy to beat Estonia, the top seeds in the group. Georgia were just that little bit too strong." said Lowther.