Only days before they are due to pool their resources for Ireland in a Davis Cup tie against Denmark, Owen Casey and Scott Barron are set to do battle in the final of the Perrier Irish Close championship at Donnybrook today.

For admirers of the baseline game, spiced with well plotted rallies, last night's semi-finals were eminently watchable, if tantalisingly brief. Casey and Barron despatched their opponents, Joe Green and George McGill, in straight sets, both in an hour and five minutes.

Ever since their tense struggle in the Irish indoor championships final in January, which Barron won, a return match had been eagerly awaited.

Casey said he had no problems with Joe Green yesterday: "I struggled only for motivation out there," he said. "He probably scored less than five winners against me in the whole match."

George McGill, a player of great fluency, gave Barron a tougher time. The top seed had to work harder than he had perhaps anticipated. A break of serve at the start helped Barron's confidence and he broke in the 3rd and 7th games of the second set to clinch a 6-4 6-2 victory.

The women's final today will see Gina Niland attempt to achieve her fifth win in a row against Yvonne Doyle.