McGee shock for Niland

LIMERICK’S Conor Niland got a huge shock at the semi-final stage of the Danone-sponsored National Irish tennis championships at Donnybrook last evening.

Niland, even though only coming back from injury and lacking some match practice, could not have foreseen the outcome as a 17-year-old from Castleknock, James McGee, rocked the Davis Cup player with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win.

It was the biggest surprise on the Irish calendar this year but young McGee has hopped from the frying pan into the fire for he has to face Ireland’s top player, Peter Clarke in today’s final.

Clarke is smarting since being left out of the Davis Cup team earlier in the week and he remained in winning groove by shaking off a tenacious challenge from young Barry King in the other semi-final.

Cork girl Elsa O’Riain takes on the top seed Yvonne Doyle in today’s women’s final.