AGE proved no deterrent and the invaluable asset of vast experience prevailed at the South of Ireland championship at Lahinch yesterday as 45 year old former Walker Cup player Arthur Pierse and former international Adrian. Morrow cleared their way to the semi finals.

The line up this morning will bring Pierse into opposition with the defending champion, 31 year old Jody Fanagan. Morrow will meet 19 year old Rickey Elliott from Royal Portrush, who on Monday saw off Garth McGimpsey. Yesterday he reached the semi final by beating another member of the youthful pool of talent, 22 year old international Ray Brady, by 4 and 3 in the quarter final after a fifth round morning victory over Patrick Collier.

But there is no doubting the man who really stole the limelight yesterday. Arthur Pierse has won the East, West and North titles in a fine career, but the South, which he is contesting this year for the 26th time, has proved an elusive target.

Four times a beaten semi finalist in this championship, should he win the title today he will become the first man to win all four regional championships.

"I have always wanted to win the South but I will be putting the possibility of the historic aspect of winning all four titles out of my mind," said Pierse.

With the wind blowing a vigorous path and the rain coming down, Pierse revealed tremendous resolution. He looked to be on the way out in the fifth round in the morning when he stood three down against another of the youthful school internationals, Richard Coughlan. But he won on the 20th with a birdie four after he pulled dead from off the green.

Then in the afternoon, he again revealed his determination when he came from behind to beat 22 year old Peter Lawrie, who was runner up in the Irish stroke play championship this year.

Pierse has formed a very happy and fruitful alliance with the man who caddied for him yesterday, Martin Barrett, an accomplished local senior cup player who has himself claimed many a notable win in this series.

"Martin has been invaluable. He suggested to me a few weeks ago that I still had it in me to win the South. Somehow I have found difficulty clubbing myself through the years at Lahinch. I had no such problems with Martin at my side."

After taking an early two hole lead against Lawrie, Pierse lost that advantage and went one down when Lawrie won the 11th and held that advantage until the 17th. Here Pierse squared after, Lawrie was through the green and Pierse holed a seven foot putt to square.

At the 18th, Pierse was on the front of the green with a drive and three iron. Lawrie bunkered his drive and after placing out saw his approach roll off the green. Pierse was two feet away with his first putt and Lawrie then holed from 15 feet to get down in five. Pierse was left with the two foot putt for a birdie four, the hole and the match and he duly holed the putt for his place in the semi final.

Morrow, who won this title in 1983, beat Patrick McGilloway in the morning and then came from three down after six against Graham Spring in the afternoon to win 2 and 1. The stretch from the seventh to the ninth was crucial for Morrow. He won three holes in a row to square, with Spring three putting twice in that stretch.

Morrow went ahead for the first time at the 11th when par figures sufficed to win the hole against an opponent whose game deteriorated. The 13th was crucial as Morrow got an unlikely half when he holed from 12 feet. He went two up at the 15th and Spring could not produce the necessary response.

Only once this week has Fanagan had to go to the 18th and that was in the second round. In achieving two wins yesterday he went no further than the 15th.

In the morning he beat Karl Borenemann 4 and 3, then he proved far too experienced for Michael O'Kelly. O'Kelly won the first in a four to a five but Fanagan hit back immediately with a birdie four at the second and took the lead at the short third when O'Kelly bunkered his tee shot.

From that point on Fanagan was in command as he won five holes in a row to go four up. His only concession came at the seventh where O'Kelly got one back, but O'Kelly's lapses on the greens proved costly against so accomplished an opponent.

After turning three up, Fanagan went four ahead at the short 11th and then birdied the 13th to stretch his lead to five and it was all over at the next. Fanagan was one under par. "I was happy at the way I played especially as it was difficult out there in the wind," said Fanagan.

Elliott was never in arrears against Brady and stood three up at the turn. He was one under par when he finished off matters at the 15th for a fine win over the man who won the West Of Ireland title last season.