McKeown’s star continues to rise despite last eight exit at Malahide

JORDAN McKeown’s impressive run at the ITF junior world ranking tournament at Malahide came to end yesterday when he bowed out at the quarter final stage.

The Bangor teenager finally met his match, going down 7-5 7-5 to seventh seeded Italian Andrea Fiorentina after producing a brave battle.

Despite not having the best of luck in the draws in the three week ITF series in Dublin and Belfast, McKeown will climb the world rankings having reached one quarter final and the second round twice.

Meanwhile, Cian McDonnell, who made a second round exit at Malahide, was showing no signs of fatigue as he booked his place in the Co Antrim Championship at Ballycastle yesterday after a gruelling schedule.

The 1 6 - y e ar - ol d t r avel l e d from Dublin after his defeat and played two more matches on the north coast on Tuesday to reach the last eight in which he defeated Fermanagh man Ronan McKeever 7-6 6-3 yesterday.

McDonnell will face Michael Blease in the semis after the Windsor player was awarded a walkover against top seed Karl Donaldson, who was forced to withdraw after just three games due to a hip injury.

Second s eed, and f ormer champion, Aaron Stubbs from Donaghadee defeated Ballynafieigh’s Justin Gilmore 6-0 6-0 and will now take on Larne’s Adam Boyle, who beat Hawarden teenager Rory Cunningham 6-7 7-5 6-3 in the closest match of the day.