George McGill put into words the way almost every Irish tennis player feels about playing Owen Casey, at Donnybrook last evening. "I was beaten before I went on court," admitted the second-year US scholarship player after losing 6-0 6-2 with a dismal display against the top seed in the semi-finals of the Carlsberg-sponsored Irish Close championships.

"I should have been relaxed in a nothing-to-lose match but instead I was tense just because he was on the other side of the net," said a rueful McGill.

Casey will be playing for his third Close title, having recorded his previous wins in 1991 and last year.

He meets David Mullins in today's decider. Mullins dropped the first set to a precocious junior in Conor Taylor of Sutton but finished the stronger. Mullins used his edge in experience in getting to the net to overcome a wilting opponent who had earlier in the day contested a Leinster junior semi-final. Taylor earned great respect before succumbing 3-6 7-5 6-3 in over an hour and a half.