ANDREW McCORMICK produced an outstanding performance over the tough Campo de Golfe course in Madeira yesterday to keep Ireland in contention for a place in the top matchplay flight of the European Youths' Team Championship.

Defending champions, Ireland, finished the first of two strokeplay qualifying rounds in seventh place among the 27 nations competing. Things were not looking too good until McCormick, the only survivor from the winning team in Denmark two years ago, returned a four under par 68.

Overall Ireland's aggregate of 382 left them 19 strokes behind early leaders, Spain.