A blistering opening morning session for the Irish team saw four athletes progress to semi-finals at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Prague.

Fionnuala Britton will earn her 31st international cap at next month’s European cross country championships in Bulgaria.

Turkish athlete Nevin Yanit has been handed a two-year ban for doping, increasing the chances that Derval O’Rourke will receive a medal from March’s European Indoor Athletics Championships.

Ciaran O Lionaird has won bronze for Ireland in the men's 3000m at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Gothenburg.

Fionnuala Britton and Amy Foster kept up the impressive run of Irish performances at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, with both making it through to the final day.

A remarkable opening day for Ireland at the European Indoor Athletics Championships was narrowly denied a golden finish when Derval O’Rourke was edged out into fourth in the final of the women’s 60 metres hurdles.

A strong team of 11 has named to represent Ireland at the European Indoor Athletics Championships, which get underway in Gothenburg on Friday.

SATURDAY

An Irish team of eight, headed by double European Cross-Country Champion Fionnuala Britton and Europe’s fastest man over 400m this year so far, Brian Gregan, have been pre-selected for next week’s European Indoor Athletics Championships in Gothenburg.

A FIGHTING Derval O’Rourke came to the rescue of wounded Irish morale when she put recent mediocrity behind her to win the bronze medal in the final of the women’s 60 metres hurdles at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Turin yesterday.

Ireland's David Gillick has successfully retained his 400 metres title at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

Thomas Chamney and David McCarthy both qualified for the 800 metres semi-finals at the European Indoor Athletics Championships today in Birmingham to complete a very satisfactory first day for the Irish team.

IRELAND’S David Gillick may be the second fastest 400m runner competing, but he will have to reproduce his best form at the European indoor athletics championships this evening if he is to make it through to tomorrow’s final.

IRISH MEDAL hope Alistair Cragg believes his chances of glory at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Madrid this weekend will be greatly enhanced by the presence of team-mate Mark Carroll beside him on the starting line.