THE Irish team's loss has turned out to be the TSB-sponsored Cork Open's gain this weekend, with Anna McGeeyer, who had to miss out on next week's World championship's in Malaysia because of her studies in Limerick, starting as the favourite for one of the country's most prestigious local titles.
McGeever takes on Niamh McMahon of Dunhill in this afternoon's first round, and, like her fellow seeds Stefanie Brind, Eleanor Lapthorne and Sinead O'Connor, she should come safely through to this evening's semi-finals at Highfield.
The finals, though, will be held at Sunday's Well, and a repeat of McGeever's World Junior championships clash last year with England's Brind, which the Irishwoman won would be an attractive prospect to most - except, of course, Lapthorne who was runner-up in this event for the past two years. She will be aiming to upset the seedings this time around by going one better.
In the men's event, there are also some highly talented English youngsters mixed in with a strong local field. Former junior internationals James Robbins from London and Chris Tomlinson are seeded to meet in the final.
The local challenge is led by Westwood's Ed Dunne, while Mark Allen of Sutton has been, promoted to fourth seed; following the withdrawal due to injury of Dungarvan's Brian O'Connor.
