McSweeney and McBrearty bow out in semi-finals

Ireland's Ailis McSweeney and Darren McBrearty were run out of contention in their respective semi-finals at the European Indoor Championships in Paris.

Cork sprinter McSweeney finished seventh in their 60 metres semi-final, hitting the line in 7.34 seconds. The time was just 0.02 seconds slower than her personal best which she set earlier this year.

Teenager McBrearty from Donegal showed his racing nous again in his 800 metres semi-final, sitting in third place after the first 600m.

He moved ahead with less than two laps remaining, but could not outlast race winner Andrew Osagie from Britain (1:49.02), Poland's Adam Kszczot, Spain's Kevin Lopez and Italian Maro Scapini.

McBrearty, who turns 20 next week, finished fifth in the end, in 1:49.78. His time was actually quicker than the winner of the second semi-final, Spain's Luis Alberto Marco (1:50.60).

The rangy Letterkenny athlete still professed himself to be 'very happy' with his run afterwards, promising to come back stronger for the outdoor season.