‘Bittersweet’ Euro finale for Robinson

It was bittersweet for the Irish on the final day of the European championships in Zurich as Paul Robinson and Ciarán Ó Lionáird had two conflicting reasons to rue the 1500m final while the men’s 4x400m relay ran another national record of 3:01.67 to place fifth.

Robinson was an agonising fourth, passed by Great Britain’s Chris O’Hare in the last 30m, while Ó Lionáird’s race was run with 600m to go when he got clipped from behind.

“Bittersweet,” was Robinson’s reply after his 3:46.35 race, won comfortably by the most infamous athlete of the championships, Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad, of France, in 3:45.60.