TOMMY HAMILTON'S winning debut on the international scene compounded the reality of a new dawn for Irish men's tennis as Ireland celebrated promotion to Group One of the European team championship With a clear victory over Monaco at Riverview yesterday.

With the Irish number two singles player Owen Casey heading for Dublin Airport with his bride of last week on, a delayed honeymoon, Hamilton's first outing at this level was a defining feature in a crushing 3-0 victory.

Peter Wright, the non-playing team captain was in awe of Hamilton's undaunted display. "I am very happy, with his performance. His poise and confidence was remarkable. He was more like a seasoned Player than one playing his first international," said Wright.

"It has been an encouraging year for Irish tennis promotion in the Davis Cup as well as in the European team championship, a fine performance by Scott (Barron) and Owen (Casey) in Atlanta and a new Tennis Ireland chief administrator in Des Allen."

Hamilton, it must be said, got some assistance from a tiring Christophre Bogetti, who had played for five hours on each of the first two days.

A third year student in international economics at Arkansas University, Hamilton, who was born in Cork, grabbed his chance with courage and skill. "I was a little nervous at first but the fact that my serve was working well from the start helped me to settle," he said.

The Irishman survived a crucial break point against him at 5-5 in the 11th game of the first set. He reacted by storming the forecourt behind a sure fire serve to stamp out the danger. "If he was going to beat me I had made up my mind that he would have to pass me," said a pleased Hamilton following his 7-6, 6-2 win.

The Irish number one, Scott Barron was complimented on his game by the player he ousted, 19-year-old full timer Christophre Bosio. The scoring pattern here was quite bizzare Barron whipped up winners of elegance and regularity for a 6-0 first set win, but he could,, manage only one game in the second set before storming to a 6-1 final set" win in 71 minutes.

Barron put his second-set lapsed down to apathy Bosio explained his own authority in the second set "I felt that suddenly he, (Barron) had doubts about his game and I went for all out attack".

It always seemed, though, that Bosio was never going to match Barron's superior fitness anyway. Hamilton then teamed up with Robert Collins to win the doubles and complete the whitewash.