Cork teenager Elsa O'Riain has been given a belated call up for Ireland's team to compete in the Fed Cup in Estoril, Portugal, beginning on March 27th, writes Pat Roche.

O'Riain replaces Karen Nugent who is recovering from illness and her selection means that at 17 she becomes the youngest Irish player to earn Fed Cup recognition.

Meanwhile, the inaugural Ballygowan sponsored Irish senior schools tennis cup gets under way on Friday. All four provinces are involved at the eight regional venues which are Templeogue, Sutton, Belfast Boat club, Irvinestown, Galway, Limerick Lawn, Cork (Tennis village) and Mullingar.

The top boys and girls team at each of the venues will qualify for the national finals at Riverview in Dublin on March 24th.