A FRESH beginning for Irish men's tennis will probably see the youngest international side ever named acquit itself satisfactorily in next week's European team championship series at Riverview.

Tom Hamilton and Robert Collins, two debutant teenage US scholarship students, were called up yesterday to augment the experience of full time professionals Scott Barron, who leads the team, and Owen Casey.

The challenge for all four is as welcome as it is formidable. Poland and Monaco present the toughest tasks, with Luxembourg the group's most likely whipping boys.

A change of venue from Fitzwilliam to Riverview could favour the young Irish players who are more accustomed to the club's medium to fast surface.

Reports on the current form of all four Irish players is encouraging. Hamilton's victory over Eoin Collins in the Irish Close final at Donnybrook this summer confirmed the view of all the best judges, including team captain Peter Wright, that he is ready for international competition of this calibre.

The Arkansas based student was recently on the winning side in the US Collegiate Doubles Championship in Baltimore. Collins' form has been equally impressive and he seems poised for a protracted international career similar to that of his brother, Eoin.

The healthy rivalry between Scott Barron and Owen Casey would hardly have escaped the notice of anyone who keeps the world's savagely competitive satellite circuits.

The Irish duo never seem to operate on the same continent, let alone in the same country but, nonetheless, like to keep a watchful eye each others other's progress.

Barron edged ahead of Casey for the first time in the rankings last month and will therefore play at number one in singles. The fact that both players admit to being better at doubles than at singles would seem to hold the promise of a strong position for Ireland in the event of the singles being split next week.

Barron is still away on tour and yesterday qualified for the quarter finals of the fourth week of the Thailand circuit.