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Murphy in training (file photo). Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Winning

Ireland have won a bronze medal at the European Swimming Championships

20-year-old Alex Murphy sets a new national record in the 50m breaststroke final in Israel.

ALEX MURPHY HAS won bronze for Ireland at the European Short Course Swimming Championships.

Murphy, 20, broke the Irish national record with a time of 26.35 seconds in the 50m breaststroke final in Netanya, Israel this afternoon.

The time left him deadlocked with Russia’s Oleg Kostin in a dead heat for third place.

Reigning European champion Damir Dugonjic retained his title with a time of 26.20, with Great Britain’s Adam Peaty beaten to the gold by an agonising one-hundredth of second.

Murphy’s medal win matches that of his namesake, Barry Murphy, who also took bronze behind Dugonjic in the same event two years ago.

He becomes the sixth Irish swimmer to medal at the European short courses, joining Andrew Bree, Grainne Murphy, Melanie Nocher, Sycerika McMahon and Murphy.

final

“I’m very excited to get on the podium this evening,” Murphy said.

“I mean I have trained and prepared for this chance, but it’s still a real surprise when it happens.

“I’d like to thank everyone in Swim Ireland and UCD Ad-Astra for their support.”

Murphy returns to the pool on Friday when he competes in the 100m breaststroke.

Ireland’s other representative, Shauna O’Brien, competes in the 50m butterfly heats on Thursday.

Ireland will take on both Rugby World Cup finalists next November

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