For the Irish, this was their best-ever medal haul at the European Cross Country, but it was also so much more. For so many years, they had come to this event with hopes rested squarely on the shoulders of Fionnuala McCormack alone.

Fionnuala McCormack will carry the medal hopes for the Irish at the European Cross Country on Sunday, December 8, the 35-year-old announced on an Irish team of 40 for the event in Lisbon.

When it comes to succeeding in any race, previous form over course and distance is always a big help — so it proved for Gary O’Hanlon and Angela McCann at yesterday’s Irish Examiner Cork City Marathon.

Ciara Mageean and Kevin Dooney will lead the women's and men's sides.

The triumph and tragedy of sport was encapsulated by Harry Purcell’s magnificent senior 800m and 400m double before he pulled a hamstring in the 4x100m relay at the Aviva All-Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships in Tullamore on Saturday.