McGonagle not pressing panic button

Irish athletics chiefs and competitors last night played down the poor performances at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul.

Derval O’Rourke (60m Hurdles) and Ciaran O Lionaird (1500m) failed to make their respective finals but Irish team manager, Patsy McGonagle wasn’t overly concerned

He said: “I wouldn’t want to overstate the championships. It’s all about the Olympics for the elite performers. It’s not a statement about Irish athletics at the moment.”