GARTH McGIMPSEY, the most successful Irish amateur golfer of the current era, has failed yet again to win a title that has eluded him through his career. And he was among some distinguished names who parted the scene yesterday when the third and fourth rounds of the Bank of Ireland Championship were completed at Lahinch.

McGimpsey's hopes of winning here and becoming the only man to take all four Irish regional titles, perished in the fourth round when he went down to Ulster youth interprovincial 19-year-old Ricky Elliott from Royal Portrush by 4 and 3.

So it was yet another futile journey to the West Clare coast for McGimpsey as youth conquered experience. It was a case of the pupil administering a lesson to the master, as McGimpsey was captain of the Ulster youths side on which Elliott played last May.

It will afford McGimpsey little consolation that he was one of four current internationals to got out of the championship. Three did not survive the morning's third round as Eddie Power, John Morris and the Irish stroke-play champion Keith Nolan all lost at that stage. Power was eliminated at the 19th by Gordon Forbes from Castlerock; Morris went down by one hole to James Rogers (The Island) and Nolan lost on the 18th to Stephen Browne from Hermitage, who then went out to former international Denis O'Sullivan in the fourth round. Out, too, went the reigning East of Ireland titleholder Noel Fox, beaten in the fourth round at the 22nd by former international Adrian Morrow, who won the South title 13 years ago.

Barry Reddan was one of threes-former champions to make his exit.

He was beaten 4 and 3 in the fourth-round by Karl Bornemann (Douglas) and Bornemann's reward for that win is a meeting this with the defending champion Jody Fanagan.

Fanagan was in top form as he cruised through his two assignments. He was five under par when he beat Stephen Fitzpatrick; (Woodbrook) 3 and 2 and four, under par in his 5 and 4 win over Michael Buggy, from Castlebar.

Veteran Mick Morris, champion here in 1982, was beaten by one hole by Dublin garda Patrick McGilloway in the third round and McGilloway then ended the hopes of last year's Ireland boys champion, 16-year-old Lee Dalton, from Waterford by 2 and 1, to set up a meeting today with Morrow.

There was sweet revenge for defeat in the 1993 final for 23-year-old Michael O'Kelly, from Limerick. He had a 2 and 1 win over the man who beat him on that occasion, Peter Sheehan (Castletroy). O'Kelly will now meet international Ken Kearney, while veteran Arthur Pierse, after two big wins yesterday, takes on Richard Coughlan, runner-up in the national championship last season. Coughlan was also in convincing form yesterday in registering two facile victories.

But Elliott claimed the most notable victory of all. His short game was of a high quality and came to his rescue after some wayward driving. Now set to go to Teledo University on a golf scholarship, he was a semi-finalist in the North of Ireland championship a fortnight ago and during his run to the penultimate stage he defeated both Fanagan and Coughlan.

He was one up after six against McGimpsey. He retained that advantage to the turn and his expertise in and around the green enabled him to get a half at the ninth. He went two up when he birdied the short 11th with an eight-foot putty and the advantage was three at the 12th when McGimpsey three putted from the front of the green.

McGimpsey drove the green to three feet of the pin at the 13th, but Elliott got a crucial half when he produced a magnificent chip toe three feet to halve the hole in birdie three after McGimpsey missed the eagle putt from three feet. Elliott" then got down from 12 feet to get another half in birdie four at the 14th. It was all over at the next when Elliott pitched to four feet to win the hole and the match as he responded to the demands imposed by the cold wind that was the only impediment on a bright day.

"There is no doubt this was my greatest win," said Elliott modestly. He will meet Patrick Collier (Limerick) this morning. Collier defeated Rogers late in the evening to claim his place in the fifth round.