YET another Irish tennis aspirant, George McGill, left Dublin Airport yesterday to join the American Collegiate scholarship system for four years.

The excitement of the departure for the Limerick teenager was tempered by his prompt dismissal by Owen Casey in the Irish Open Indoor final, sponsored by Pamela Scott at Riverview on Saturday. He also had reason to doubt the wisdom of having spent so much time on the practise court with the Irish Davis Cup star in recent weeks.

Normally, practising with Casey would be highly beneficial, but not before playing him in a national final. Casey, the champion for the third time and never more convincing, said after his 6-2, 6-1 win: "I know George's game because we practise a lot here. I can read his serves well."

McGill got the worst possible start and was broken in the first game. "I badly needed a good start. He put pressure on me from the start and he never missed much," said Indiana University fresher McGill, who regularly had to save break points. He was broken again in the seventh game of a 22-minute first set.

Casey's consistent and unpredictable returns were defining features of a lobsided 56-minute match. It was different with Casey when he faced danger, such as in the sixth game of the second set when a rare double fault pulled him back to deuce. The response was clinical, a service winner and a delicious volley for 5-1.

The women's final was a lot more competitive, yet once again it was experience that won out for Yvonne Doyle, a 6-3 6-4 winner. Although US-bound Claire Curran did not appear to have the experience to dismantle the top seed's game, she fought courageously and tried to match the forehand power of Doyle.

The seventh and eighth games of the second set were of crucial importance for Doyle. Curran, whose biggest errors were on game points, had just broken back to love (3-3). Doyle's immediate response was equally decisive and she held her serve for minimal loss in the eighth.