Sonia still undecided but Cragg has arrived
She has not ruled out quitting athletics after trailing home last in the race, but equally the 34-year-old 5,000m silver medallist from the Sydney Games has promised not to make a rash decision.
"I still don't feel good, even now," said O'Sullivan last night.
The former world and European 5,000m champion said: "I don't know, but retirement is one of the options in the hat, although I haven't spoken to anyone about it yet."
A road-racing future might be another of the options but she said: "I just don't know, I've no plans at the moment. I've really nothing, only zero plans at the moment. I won't be running on the track again this season."
However, there was some good news for the Irish in Athens last night as Alistair Cragg cruised to the final of the 5,000m with the promise of something special on Saturday.
Fresh from the US Collegiate circuit where he has enjoyed tremendous success under legendary Irish coach John McDonnell, Cragg made his Olympic debut in prestigious company.
World record holder and newly crowned 10,000m champion, Keneniksa Bekele, won the heat in 13:21.16, with the 1,500m champion, Hicham El Guerrouj, third in 13:21.87.
But the South African born Cragg, after a nervous start, came back to assert his authority on the proceedings, leading briefly before finishing seventh and advancing to the final as the fourth fastest loser.
He now becomes the first Irish man to make an Olympic final since Seoul in 1988 when Marcus O'Sullivan finished eighth in the 1,500m and John Doherty finished ninth in the final of the 5,000m.
"They are good guys to be following and I am proud to be following in their footsteps," Cragg said. "It feels good to be in an Olympic final. That's what I came here for. Now I can sit down and regroup and start to concentrate. I'm new at this.
"I'm happy things have gone well but the job is not done yet. I have to go out there and do something special now."
His only other track races in Europe were in Rome in early July and then Crystal Palace before the national championships. Now he is hoping his inspirational coach will be able in Athens on Sunday.
Sadly he will be sole Irish representative in Sunday's night's race.
Mark Carroll controlled the second heat  leading the field all the way through the first 2,000m in 5:24.90. But, when the pace changed and Ali Saidi Sief of Algeria, the silver medallist in Sydney, Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya and Dejene Berhanu went on to win, the Cork man drifted back to finish a disappointing 15th in 13:46.81.
"I just wanted to hit 64's  13:20  and I just did not have it in my legs," the 32-year-old Corkman said. "I feel a bit tired. It has been a long year.
"But I think it all goes back to Rome when I dropped out of that race. I felt very annoyed with myself and the following day I went to altitude and I really punished myself for three weeks. I over did it and I have been tired ever since. My energy is down.
"Normally, I would not make top five in a field like that  a lot of 13 minute guys Âso I just tried to get in seventh, eight or ninth on time but it did not work out. I could not hold it. It is just not in my legs right now.
"It's done now. I just did not make it tonight. Sometimes you underestimate 13:20. It really is not hanging around. I mean I am 32 now, the second oldest guy on that start list, so maybe it is time I started looking around at the marathon. Having said that, I am delighted to have come here after last year when I thought my whole career was over with an injury."
Sydney silver medallist, Ali Saidi Sief leads the qualifiers into Saturday's final when eight of the top 10 qualifiers will be Africans joined by Tim Broe from the US and Craig Mottram from Australia.
Kenenisa Bekele and Hicham El Guerrouj will command the spotlight however as both attempt doubles.
But somewhere, not too far away, Alistair Ian Cragg will be out to do Ireland and, indeed Europe, proud.
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