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Mona McSharry. Andrea Staccioli/INPHO
in the pool

Teen prodigy McSharry falls short on busy day for Team Ireland at European Champs

Herself and Alex Murphy failed to advance to the 50m breaststroke finals while Jordan Sloan set a new Irish senior record.

IRELAND’S MONA MCSHARRY and Alex Murphy both reached their respective semi-finals at the 2017 European Short Course Swimming Championships today but failed to advance further.

The duo had to settle for 12th and 11th places respectively in the 50m breaststroke semi-finals.

17-year-old sensation McSharry has had a remarkable 2017 at junior level, the standout moment coming as she won 100m breastroke gold at the World Junior Swimming Championships in Indianapolis.

Today, she made a solid step up to to senior level by bookinh her first senior international semi-final spot this morning in the 50m Breaststroke.

McSharry clocked a time of 30.80 to progress and improved in the semi-final with 30.39. It wasn’t enough for a final place however as she finished 7th in the race and 12th overall.

Mona McSharry McSharry in action. Andrea Staccioli / INPHO Andrea Staccioli / INPHO / INPHO

It was a busy morning of action for Team Ireland, with 2015 European bronze medalist Murphy also both booking his semi-final spot while Jordan Sloan set a new national senior record.

Murphy clocked times of 26.66 in his heat and 26.52 in the semi-final but he had to settle for sixth place in the latter and 11th overall.

24-year-old Sloan set a new Irish record in the 400m freestyle earlier today, finishing 10th overall in 3:43.21. His main event comes tomorrow, the 200m freestyle.

Brendan Hyland, Conor Brines, Darragh Greene, Nicholas Quinn, Danielle Hill and Conor Ferguson were also flying the flag, but failed to get out of their heats.

Alex Murphy Alex Murphy before his semi-final. Andrea Staccioli / INPHO Andrea Staccioli / INPHO / INPHO

Action continues tomorrow with both McSharry and Murphy among the Irish contingent in action.

Day 1 Results (Wednesday 13th December)

Heat results

100m Butterfly Conor Brines (52.97) & Brendan Hyland (52.20)
50m Breaststroke Mona McSharry (30.80 — 16th)
50m Breaststroke Alex Murphy (26.66 — 14th), Darragh Greene (27.65) & Nicholas Quinn (28.44)
400m Freestyle Jordan Sloan (3:43.21)
100m Backstroke Danielle Hill (1:02.46)
200m Backstroke Conor Ferguson (1:55.84)

Semi final results

50m Breaststroke Alex Murphy (26.52 — 11th overall)
50m Breaststroke Mona McSharry (30.39 — 12th overall)

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