Stephen Nugent, the latest of the Malahide tennis dynasty searching for a place in the sun, clearly indicated that he is fully recovered from a serious ankle injury while despatching the challenge of Darragh McLoughlin in the Danone Irish Close championships at Donnybrook last evening.

Teenager Nugent seemed poised for his first national senior open final appearance in the indoor championships last New Year's eve when his hopes were dashed by an ankle injury that has kept him on the sidelines for almost six months.

McLoughlin may have provided his opponent with too many opportunities to club winners in a 6-1 6-1 drubbing but he did enough good things for Nugent to remark "he's a fair good player".

Conor Taylor also went through with consummate ease, ousting John O'Gorman 6-2, 6-2.

Men's singles second round: S Nugent bt D McLoughlin 6-1 6-1; C Taylor bt J O'Gorman 6-2 6-2; G Kilduff bt H Henry 6-0 6-2; C Niland bt J Cluskey 6-2 6-0; B Hassett bt P O'Halloran 6-1 7-6; J Lynch bt J McGahon 2-6 3-0 retired.

Women's singles second round: S Perkins bt A Kieran 6-2 6-2; A M Hogan bt J Johnston 6-1 6-2; E Doyle bt S Doyle 6-2 6-2.