Youth international Ricky Elliott blew up a storm at Royal Portrush yesterday when he dumped Bryan Omelia out of the Carlsberg North of Ireland Championship at the quarter-final stage.

The local member slammed his opponent by 6 and 5 after storming off to a blistering start by winning the first five holes.

This morning Elliott meets David Gibson in the semi-finals, with the other pairing being title favourite Garth McGimpsey and Paddy Gribben.

It was the greatest win of young Elliott's career to date as he demoralised Walker Cup panellist Omelia. Elliott, the Leinster Youths champion, couldn't have had a better start. He birdied the short second hole and par four fourth, rolling home putts of 20 and 30 feet.

The 21-year-old Toledo-based student continued the rampage with a winning par at the seventh, but Omelia had some brief relief when he birdied the eighth to momentarily stop the onslaught.

But not for long as Elliott pitched and putted for birdie at the long ninth to turn six up, and, after Omelia had another winning birdie at the 10th, Elliott rolled in another 20-footer at the 13th to end the lopsided battle.

"Now I know what a nightmare in the daytime feels like," commented a stunned Omelia.

Gibson beat Waterford lad Lee Dalton by 4 and 3.

McGimpsey took only 53 holes to win his four matches so far. He demolished Declan Quilligan by 9 and 7 yesterday morning and was eight-under-par. He then got past Andrew Morris 6 and 4 and was two under.

Gribben had a tougher day, having to visit the 18th green twice. In the morning, he beat leading qualifier Chris Moriarty by two holes, and then had a one hole win over Danny Coyle, coming back from being three down after seven holes.

The best match of the day, however, was that between Coyle and Eamon Brady, with Coyle the winner by 2 and 1. The Dundalk 23year-old made six birdies and didn't drop a shot, while Brady finished four under without a bogey in sight.