Durcan dumped out after epic tussle with Stal

MICHAEL DURCAN, the big hope of Ireland, bowed out of the Boys Amateur Championship at Royal St Georges, Sandwich yesterday after a tense battle with crack French teenager Gary Stal.

Durcan was never able to get his nose in front but twice recovered from two down to square. The end came at the 17th when Stal knocked in an eight-footer after the Irish boy had chipped stone dead from the rough.

It was good match-play stuff from Stal and he hardly put a foot wrong.