EXPERIENCE was the constant companion of Eoin Collins as he rebuffed the worrying challenge of fellow Davis Cup player John Doran on a damp court in the semifinals of the Carlsberg Irish Close championships at Donnybrook last evening.

Collins snuffed out Doran's bid in the second set tie break 7-4 for a 6-4 7-6 win in just over an hour.

Doran, who moves to Harvard University on scholarship in the autumn, suffered because of a recalcitrant serve in the first set, resulting in double faults at crucial moments. But his work out of the backhand court tended to compensate, and he broke the Collins serve for a 4-2 lead in the second.

Collins, however, was the more consistent. He broke early, in the third game, and served out for the opening set despite Doran's obstinate display.