Brendan Boyce went through the pain barrier to finish 19th in the men’s 50k walk at the European Athletics Championships in Berlin – having been in a medal position at halfway – as Ireland’s three track representatives bowed out back at the Olympic Stadium.

Less than two weeks out from the World Championships in London, this was always going to be a fact-finding mission for Ciara Mageean, Mark English, Brian Gregan, and Thomas Barr, and though each of them faced a test of differing degrees of difficulty, they all passed with flying colours.

Derval O'Rourke and Fionnuala Britton will lead a weakened Irish team in the European Team championship next week.