Seeds Survive In Dublin

The top four seeds have safely negotiated routes through to the semi-finals of the Cannon Kirk Homes Irish Open - with defending women's champion Madeline Perry now solely leading local interest after beating Malaysian qualifier Delia Arnold in the quarter-finals of the $25,300 WISPA World Tour squash event at the Fitzwilliam Club in Dublin.

Perry produced a stunning display to claim her place in the last four. After a shaky first round display, the world number 14 looked much sharper as she eased past Arnold 9-4, 9-4, 9-3 in just 27 minutes. The Banbridge girl is going for her fourth successive Irish Open title - but is up against it this year with England's Vicky Botwright, currently ranked eighth in the world, in the draw.

Top seed Botwright, however, was made to work in her quarter-final, before beating Mexican Samantha Teran 9-7, 9-0, 4-9, 9-3 in 50 minutes - the longest women's match of the day.

Perry, who is fighting back to form after sustaining a serious head injury late last year, will gain confidence from her quarter-final display - and having been ranked as high as six in the world. The 31-year-old fourth seed will hold no fear as she faces second seed Alison Waters from England.

In the last match of the day, British national champion Waters beat New Zealand's Jaclyn Hawkes 9-0, 9-7, 9-1.

Liam Kenny, the last remaining Irishman in the other draw, bowed out of this year's championship after losing to Malaysian third seed Mohd Azlan Iskandar. Kenny, ranked 54 in the world, put in a very respectable performance against the current world number 13. The pair shared the first two games, producing some gruelling rallies and excellent drop shots.

After winning the third game, Iskandar finished out the match to take it 11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7 in 66 minutes. The Malaysian will now face England's second seed Adrian Grant in the semi-finals.

Defending champion Alex Gough also looked in good nick as he beat Australia's Aaron Frankcomb in straight games to book his place in the semi finals. The Welshman will face Scotsman John White after the top seed defeated English qualifier Tom Richards 11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5.

Men's quarter-finals:
[1] John White (SCO) bt [Q] Tom Richards (ENG) 11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5 (37m)
[4] Alex Gough (WAL) bt [7] Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) 11-6, 11-10 (2-0), 11-9 (64m)
[3] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt [8] Liam Kenny (IRL) 11-5, 9-11, 11-4, 11-7 (66m)
[2] Adrian Grant (ENG) bt [6] Kashif Shuja (NZL) 11-7, 11-10 (2-0), 11-3 (37m)

Women's quarter-finals:
[1] Vicky Botwright (ENG) bt [8] Samantha Teran (MEX) 9-7, 9-0, 4-9, 9-3 (50m)
[3] Laura Lengthorn-Massaro (ENG) bt [7] Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) 9-6, 9-4, 9-0 (37m)
[4] Madeline Perry (IRL) bt [Q] Delia Arnold (MAS) 9-4, 9-4, 9-3 (27m)
[2] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [6] Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 9-0, 9-7, 9-1 (30m)