Contrasting Semis In Dublin

The semi-finals of the Cannon Kirk Homes Irish Open, featuring the top four seeds in both events, produced contrasting outcomes at the Fitzwilliam LTC in Dublin when the favourites eased through in the women's competition and the underdogs prevailed in the men's.

Irish eyes were truly smiling when defending champion Madeline Perry crushed France's fourth seed Isabelle Stoehr 9-2, 9-1, 9-1 in just 28 minutes to reach her ninth WISPA World Tour final.

The 29-year-old top seed from Banbridge will meet England's Laura-Jane Lengthorn after the second seed from Preston in Lancashire twice came from behind to overcome Annelize Naude, the third seed from the Netherlands, 2-9, 9-2, 5-9, 9-6, 9-3 in 59 minutes.

The Fitzwilliam crowd were treated to dramatic men's semi-finals, both of which went the full distance and ended in tie-breaks.

Top-seeded Frenchman Renan Lavigne built up a 2/0 lead against Davide Bianchetti - but the Italian third seed fought back to triumph 6-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-10 (2-0) in 110 minutes to celebrate his 11th appearance in a PSA Tour final.

A similar picture emerged in the other marathon battle when England's second seed Simon Parke began the fourth game holding a 2/1 advantage against fourth seed Borja Golan. But the Spaniard, fresh from victory in last week's Thessaloniki Open in Greece came back to claim an 11-7, 4-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-10 (2-0) upset in 88 minutes.

The 23-year-old from Santiago boasts a remarkable record in PSA Tour finals - having won all but one of the 12 he has appeared in since May 2002.

Men's semi-finals:
[3] Davide Bianchetti (ITA) bt [1] Renan Lavigne (FRA) 6-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-10 (2-0) (110m)
[4] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [2] Simon Parke (ENG) 11-7, 4-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-10 (2-0) (88m)

Women's semi-finals:
[1] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [4] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) 9-2, 9-1, 9-1 (28m)
[2] Laura-Jane Lengthorn (ENG) bt [3] Annelize Naude (NED) 2-9, 9-2, 5-9, 9-6, 9-3 (59m)