Withdraw from contest because of irritation? (7)

I believe the answer is:

scratch

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'withdraw' is the definition.
(I know that scratch is a more specific form of the action cancel)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for scratch that I've seen before include "Abraded skin areas" , "minor injury" , "Superficial damage; withdraw" , "Score - postpone indefinitely" , "cash" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.

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