Ireland athletes make their mark on first day of European Indoor Championships

Luke McCann made the best use of a favourable draw in the 1500m heats to march into his first major final.

HEAT OF THE ACTION: Ireland’s Luke McCann on his way to finishing fifth and advancing to the final

They say it’s better to be lucky than good, but it sure helps when you’re both.

That was the case for Luke McCann on the opening night of the European Indoor Championships in Istanbul, the 24-year-old Dubliner making the best use of a favourable draw in the 1500m heats to march into his first major final and put past disappointments firmly behind him.