Athletics: It was an afternoon of mixed news for Ireland's relay teams at the European Championships this afternoon as the Men's 4x400metres quartet qualified as the fastest loser but the Women's 4x100m finished sixth in their semi-final.
On a wet track in Gothenburg the Irish four of Paul McKee, Brian Boyle, David Gillick and David McCarthy finished fourth in a time of 3:04.59seconds behind the defending champions and heat winners Britain 3:02.51.
Russia (3:03.73) were second and France (3:03.87) third in Ireland's semi-final.
Germany won the first semi-final (3:03.25) ahead of Poland (3:03.49) in second and Romania (3:04.23) in third.
The Irish women's quartet of Derval O'Rourke, Joanne Cuddihy, Ailish McSweeney and Anna Boyle ran in lane eight in the second semi-final of the women's sprint rely but couldn't maintain the pace after O'Rourke gave them a strong start. In the end they finished sixth (44.38) behind winners France (43.38), even though it was a new national record.
There was further disappointment for Mary Cullen and Marie Davenport in the Women's also 5000m final as Cullen finished 12th in a time of 15:25.80seconds while Davenport failed to finish.
Marta Dominguez from Spain won in a time of 14:56.18, with Liliya Shobukhova of Russia second and Turkey's Elvan Abeylegesse third.