McGarrity hails Byrne’s brave effort

SIOBHAN BYRNE was the first Irish Olympian to exit these Beijing Games but national fencing chiefs are convinced the sport will benefit from her participation in China.

German born Byrne, whose father is from Slane, suffered a 15-8 defeat to Poland’s Irena Wieckowska in the opening round of the individual sabre on Saturday. Team manager Nuala McGarrity, Honorary General Secretary of the Irish Fencing Federation, preferred to put a positive spin on the loss of their first Olympian since Michael O’Brien in 1992.

She admitted: “It was disappointing for us and Siobhán because we know she can do so much better but, on the day, nerves got the better of her at the beginning of the match. She got her act in gear but it wasn’t in time.”