PARALYMPICS:Irish archer Sean Heary upset the odds by beating the fourth seed by one point to claim a quarter-final berth on day five of the Paralympics in Beijing.
The wild card entry to the Games found himself all square with Korean Sung Kil Go going into the final round of their clash before producing a near perfect score of 29 out of 30 from three arrows to take the match.
"I'm stunned, thrilled and delighted. I kept a complete focus on my own performance," said Heary, who was ranked 20th out of as many archers prior to competition.
Sean's Archery coach, former international Jim Conroy added: "Mental preparation for today was huge and credit must be given to the team sports psychologist, Alan Ringland.
"The Paralympic Council of Ireland has provided an excellent team support structure over here for us and Sean is reaping the rewards in competition."
Heary will now face Switzerland's Philippe Horner in tomorrow's quarter-final match.
In the swimming pool, Dublin teenager Ellen Keane shaved two seconds off her personal best and set a new Irish record when finishing sixth in her heat of the 200m Individual Medley (SM9 Class) in a time of 2.47.35 minutes.
Her time was good enough for tenth on her debut at the Games.
Visually impaired swimmer Stephen Campbell from Cookstown, Co.Tyrone, beat his personal best by a six seconds and also set a new national record, but his time also saw him finish sixth in his 400m Freestyle heat (Class S11) and 10th overall.
Paul McCarthy, Paul Ryan and Richard Whealey in the Sonar (three person keelboat) placed a respectable fifth in race six today and lie 11th overall. Bruno Jourdren, Herve Larhant and Nicolas Vicary of France continue to hold the lead.
In the Skud 18 (2 person keelboat) class Amy Kelehan and John Twomey remain in 10th place after another 10th position in today's only race. America's Nick Scandone & Maureen McKinnon Tucker continue to lead the fleet.
Just one race took place in both the Sonar and Skud 18 classes today in Qingdao but racing resumes tomorrow.
Individual boccia bronze medalist Gary Shelly and teammates Tom Leahy, Bobbie Connolly and Padraic Moran lost out to China in the quarter-final of the combined BC1-BC2.
In track and field Patrice Dockery clocked a time of 18.90seconds in the 100m (T53 Class) but narrowly missed out on a spot in the final. She now turns to heat of the T53 200m on Sunday.
In the Discus, Cork man John McCarthy threw 9.48m but just missed out on the final, finishing ninth overall in the Bird's Nest Stadium.