Seeded players fell on the double in the most unexpected circumstances during the first round of the Dunlop Irish Open Junior championships at Fitzwilliam yesterday. Neither Derek Fluskey nor Robert Foley could manage to hold their places in quite an explosive opening.

Fluskey, the number six seed, who was fancied to advance put up an obstinate struggle but the superior court awareness of Conor O'Toole saw him through 6-3 6-7 6-4. Robert Foley, seeded at number eight, went out more tamely as Mark O'Neill asserted his authority with a more rounded game for a 6-3 6-3 win.

The top seed Mark Finnegan is arguably the best under-18 player and is expected to start justifying his top seeding against Peter Macken today. He faces, though, a player of resilience as indicated by a good three-set win over Tariq Singh.

A significant straight sets win was that by Timo Barry over Patrick Doran. Rachel Doran, the top seed in the girls' junior singles was presented with tough opposition from Emma Doran before closing the match out in the 12th game of the second set.