Mageean and Healy get Irish off to strong start in Rome

The pair are eyeing medals in Sunday's final. 

Ciara Mageean of Ireland with Esther Guerrero of Spain at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Ciara Mageean and Sarah Healy got the Irish off to the perfect start at the European Championships in Rome this morning, coasting through their 1500m heats and setting up potential medal shots in Sunday night’s final.

However, there was no joy for two-time European outdoor medallist Mark English, who bowed out of the men’s 800m after finishing fifth in his heat.