It was very much a case of the underdogs being overwhelmed when the seeded players opened their campaigns in the Irish Open Indoor Championships, sponsored by Pamela Scott, at Riverview last evening.

Owen Casey and Scott Barron, the players seeded to meet in Sunday's final, were mercilessly proficient to the discomfort of John McGahon and David O'Connell. The imbalance was further in evidence as Fiachra Lennon lost his way against another Davis Cup man, John Doran.

Barron demonstrated that his power, variation and general court sense are facets of his game that are, at this stage, too well honed for O'Connell, who could muster only one game. Interestingly that game was snatched on the point that followed deuce under the new experimental rules.

Barron is satisfied that knee and elbow injuries which reduced his playing schedule to six tournaments last year as against a normal 30, have cleared up. Win or lose this week, he returns to the professional tour next month for six events in India. His schedule continues on to Egypt before he returns home for Davis Cup duty in the spring.

Stephen Nugent was the big achiever yesterday when he ousted the more experienced Nick Malone 6-1 6-7 6-1 to earn a quarter-final place.

The major surprise in the women's singles was the withdrawal of top seed Gina Niland because of 'flu. Thus, Ann Marie Hogan gained an unexpected semi-final place.

Men's Singles - Fourth round: O Casey bt J McGahon 6-0 6-0; J Doran bt F Lennon 6-0 6-1; S Barron bt D O'Connell 6-0 6-1; C Niland bt S Crabtree 6-1 1-0 ret; S Cooper bt J Colhoun 61 6-2; S Nugent bt N Malone 6-1 6-7 6-1; F Ofori bt S Taylor 6-4 3-6 7-5; J Green bt N Fagan 6-7 6-2 6-2.

Women's Singles - Third round: C Curran bt E Fagan 6-4 6-1; E Sloan bt L O'Shea 3-6 6-3 7-6. Quarter-finals: A M Hogan wo G Niland scr; C Curran bt Y Flynn 6-3 6-3; Y Doyle bt E O'Riain 6-1 3-6 6-3; K Nugent bt E Sloan 6-4 6-3.