A commendable 2-1 victory over Estonia, the top seeds in the group, gave the Ireland women's team a new lease of life and fresh hope in the Federation Cup round robin in Turkey yesterday.

Greater significance was placed on the victory when the news filtered through to the elated Irish camp of Bosnia Herzegovina's defeat by Georgia.

This meant that with Ireland's first round conquerors on the losing end, the competition opened up considerably.

Against Bosnia Herzegovina Gina Niland and Lesley O'Halloran lost their singles matches but both players sprang back to winning form with courage and skill to unexpectedly make yesterday's doubles match against Estonia a dead rubber. "We're in a good position again. I was quite confident that we had a good chance of winning. Gina and Lesley played well the first day, still they had to play well again today to win and I was pleased with their performances," said Ireland's team captain Peter Lowther.

O'Halloran used her serve well against Hele Holter, but had to come back from a 2-5 deficit in the first set. The Irish woman gained composure and grew in confidence, and gave little away for a 7-5, 6-1 win in just under two hours.

Niland also looked in trouble in the early stages of her match with Liina Suurvarik. The Irish number one was erratic in the first set and failed to pick up a game. With Niland determined to get her game on track, the long haul began at the outset of the second set and almost an hour-and-a-half later Niland had done the necessary for a 0-6, 6-2, 6-2 win.

O'Halloran and Yvonne Flynn played in doubles but lost out to Helen Laupa and Maret Ami 6-2, 6-1.

Only one team qualifies from the group, making victory over Moldova today, Georgia, the number six seeds, tomorrow and Iceland on Saturday virtually essential.

"We hope to beat a young Moldova team and set ourselves up for the crunch match of the group with Georgia. We are not the favourites but we are definitely back in business again," said Lowther.

Singles: L O'Halloran bt Hele Holter 7-5, 6-1. G Niland bt L Suurvarik 0-6 6-2 6-2.

Doubles: L O'Halloran and Y Flynn lost to H Laupa and M Ami 2-6, 1-6.