Tennis Irish IndoorsAll the seeded players were in frugal form when the opening shots were fired in the National Indoor championships at the Riverview club in Dublin yesterday. Not a single set was lost and few games were conceded as top seed John McGahon of Dundalk, second seed James McGee and third seed Eoin Heavey displayed their talents.
McGahon, a member of the Irish Davis Cup squad, coasted to victory over Brendan Mulligan, 6-3, 6-2, with a confident display.
James McGee did not drop a game to Fergal O'Neill while Eoin Heavey dismissed the challenge of Connacht's Michael Hayes, 6-1, 6-4.
Mark Botell, whose sister Amy is seeded at four in the women's event, outgunned David Black, 6-4, 6-1.
Botell is seeded at eight in the men's singles and is poised to reach the quarter-finals at least.
The top seed in the women's event, Welsh international Olivia Scarfi, a 20-year-old who has played for Wales in Federation Cup, is expected to be strongly challenged by Rachel Dillon from Donnybrook, who is the number two seed.
Both players go into action in the opening rounds today.
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