'Carnage' in men’s 3000m at National Indoor Championships with World spots on the line

A trio of rivals - Andrew Coscoran, Nick Griggs and Darragh McElhinney – were racing for the two available spots at next month’s World Indoors in Poland.

Andrew Coscoran of Star of the Sea AC, Meath, 342, leads the men's 3000m ahead of Darragh McElhinney of Bantry AC, Cork, left, and Nick Griggs of CNDR AC, second from right. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

It was the race that had it all. Tactical intrigue, rising tension, and three of Ireland’s quickest ever distance runners steadily shifting through the gears before a fast, furious, frantic denouement.

And as is often the case at the nationals, it also came a hefty dollop of controversy.