Byrne and Deegan rewarded

TENNIS:

Dublin teenagers Julie Byrne and Lauren Deegan have been rewarded for recent fine performances with their selection on the Ireland women’s team for the Fed Cup campaign in Estonia on February 4-7.

Monkstown member Byrne (17) reached the final of the National Indoors, coming up short against Romanian-born Karola Bejenaru, who has not yet acquired an Irish passport.

Donnybrook’s Deegan, also 17, the National U18 champion, advanced to the Indoors’ semi-finals, pushing Bejenaru to a third set champions’ tie-break.

Byrne and Deegan will be joined by national No 1 and full-time professional Amy Bowtell, from Delgany, Wicklow and experienced Fed Cup player Rachel Dillon from the Donnybrook club.

The Yvonne-Doyle- captained side are in Group Two with Bosnia-Herz, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Luxembourg, Slovenia and South Africa.