Top trio in Euro action

GRÁINNE MURPHY, Melanie Nocher and Aisling Cooney represent Ireland at the European Short Course (25m) Swimming Championships which begin in Eindhoven today.

Murphy bids to build on her Long Course success in August when she won silver in the women’s 1500m freestyle and was just piped for bronze in the 800m freestyle.

Nocher has a pedigree in this competition, making the finals of the 200m backstroke in the last two championships while Cooney impressed at the National Championships last weekend where she was named Swimmer of the Meet.

Irish High Performance director Peter Banks downplayed the small team competing in Holland.

He explained: “We have a lot of swimmers who are away in different parts of the world and in school right now, so the focus was on those who wanted to go to Eindhoven.

“It gives the three girls an opportunity to race in European competition and gives them a feel of where they are going to be for the rest of the season.”

All three Irish are in action today with Nocher and Cooney in the heats of the 100m backstroke while Murphy competes in the 200 individual medley.