The status quo was maintained at the head of Irish tennis by Owen Casey and Gina Niland in the East of Ireland senior open finals at Londonbridge Road on Saturday.

Casey and Niland went through the usual business of picking up the titles and it was Casey's eighth open success this year. Robert Collins was a little hampered by a threatening groin injury but the difference in ability was evident during the hour it lasted.

A brief fightback by Collins after finding himself 5-0 down in the first set hinted at a closer match.

In this brief response to Casey's dominance, Collins won his first game, a 16-point sixth, broke serve and won a third game before Casey closed the set down.

Casey's game more than frayed at the edges during the closing minutes of that first set. He accounted for this by admitting "I am tired, and just lost my concentration."

When Collins dropped serve in the opening game of the second set the rest seemed a mere formality and so it proved with Casey losing only six points in the process.

Niland confirmed her Irish close win over Claire Curran, this time winning in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.

The match was marred by a penalty point incurred by Curran. It came at a crucial stage in the second set. Umpire Ciarain O'Donovan's imposition, strictly in accordance with rule, gave Niland the eighth game and her final break for a 5-3 lead.

There was little chance of Curran recovering composure and Niland served out for the match, to 15, in over an hour.

There is not a great deal in ability between these great rivals but Niland seems to be able to cut Curran's confidence off at the mains whenever she puts her mind to it.