Mixed fortunes for Irish as Paralympic Games commence

THERE were mixed emotions for the Irish after the opening weekend of the Paralympic Games in Athens.

At the Olympic Stadium last night, Patrice Dockery crashed out in the 5000m T54 wheelchair semi-final.

The Dubliner was involved in a collision with three other competitors midway through the race and was unable to continue

“She is bruised but thankfully it is nothing too serious,” Paul McDermott of the Irish Sports Council said. “Obviously she is very, very disappointed by the result.”

Earlier Conall McNamara missed out on qualification for the 200m final by one spot despite producing a season best 23.58. However McNamara was not too dismayed as he will now focus on his specialist event, the 400m, with the semi-final to be contested on Thursday.

However there was no joy for Tom Leahy from Ballyhooly in Cork in the shot putt. The Paralympic veteran who won a goal medal and set a world record in the discus in Sydney, finished seventh.

In judo, Dublin native Tony White was beaten by the eventual gold medallist Cyril Jonard of France while team mate Michael Doyle was forced to withdraw due to a cruciate ligament injury.

The news however was a little brighter on the water as Kinsale’s John Twomey and his crew including Seanie McGrath and Brian O’Mahony yesterday finished third in the second race of the Sonar Class. The result leaves them ninth overall with six races remaining.

Twomey would be considered a medal hopeful and has finished fifth in the World Championships in 2001, 2002 and last year.

On Saturday, cyclist Mark Kehoe put in a brilliant individual performance in the preliminary of the 4k individual pursuit. Kehoe, from Meath is the first Irishman to compete in cycling at the Paralympics and finished in 5 minutes, 15 seconds, knocking 35 seconds of his personal best.

Earlier in the day, Claire Conway from Belfast recorded a pb of 1.24.37 but was just outside qualification for the 100m butterfly final.

In the same heat, Australian record holder, Kate Bailey smashed her own World Record of 1.07.69.

Ireland’s highly rated 7-a-side football suffered a 6-0 defeat at the hands of the World Champions and tournament favourites Ukraine.

On Tuesday Ireland will look to overcome Argentina to set up a must win game against Iran to qualify for the semi-finals.

All is not lost. Tonight, Derek Malone will compete.

Derek Malone from Whitegate, Co. Clare is ranked fourth in the eight man field for the T38 800m which begins at 7.30pm Irish time.