Ireland's bid for tennis's Federation Cup group honours sadly hit the buffers in Turkey yesterday with a 3-0 defeat by Georgia, the favourites.
The margin of defeat in the second last match of the roundrobin series was not quite expected following the Irish women's improving form as they became become more accustomed to the vagaries of clay-court play.
Peter Lowther, the Irish team captain who had watched his side score successive wins over Estonia and Moldova, was insisting last night that victory over the Georgians was always possible even though his players failed to win a set against a younger side.
An erratic start which saw Lesley O'Halloran lose 6-3 6-2 to 16year-old Margalita Chakhnashvili was regarded by Lowther as very damaging to his team's chances. "Lesley was very patchy. She didn't repeat the form she had shown in her other matches."
Gina Niland crashed to a heavier hitting player in the top singles and the result was final.
Niland's 21-year-old opponent, Nino Louarsabishvili, is ranked 190 in the world and is an excellent clay-court player currently climbing the ladder. It was difficult for Niland to find worthwhile rhythm against a player of such power and quality off the ground and she succumbed in an hour 6-3 6-1.
The dead rubber doubles saw debutantes Aoife O'Neill and Yvonne Flynn go down to the two Georgian girls 6-3 6-1. Ireland take on Iceland in their final match today. "We still have a chance of finishing runners-up in the group and although we are disappointed at this stage, it would represent a creditable overall performance, " said Lowther.
Georgia 3 Ireland 0 (Singles: M Chakhnashvili bt L O'Halloran 6-3 6-2, N Louarsabishvili bt G Niland 6-3 6-1; doubles: Chakhnashvili and Louarsabishvili bt Y Flynn and A O'Neill 6-3 6-1).
