Murray still hopeful despite losing Cragg

THE forced withdrawal of Alistair Cragg has been a huge blow to Ireland’s medal hopes at the European cross-country championships in Tilburg, but the men’s team, led by national champion Gary Murray, are ready to get on with the job they came here to do.

"Of course, it is a huge disappointment for everyone a disappointment for Ireland and a disappointment for the team but we just have to get on with it," Murray, who led the Irish junior team to bronze medals in 1999, insisted last night.

That year, in Velenjel in Slovakia, he finished eighth.