BARRY MURPHY SHOWED no sign of easing off from his fine run of form this week after coming through the 50 metre breaststroke heats as the fourth fastest qualifier.
Murphy’s time of 26.76 was just 0.16 seconds off his own Irish record and if he were to meet or beat that record he would stand a real chance of advancing on to his first world final at the short course championships in Istanbul.
Fastest qualifier was European silver-medallist Aleksander Hetland in 26.6 seconds, just .07 ahead of freestyle 50 metre Olympic Champion Florent Manadou.
The semi-finals of the fast-paced race will take place this evening.