European Athletics Championship preview: Ireland have star power to match Rome medal haul

No relay medal likely this time, but Ireland can still thrive at Euros

MEDAL HOPE: Kate O'Connor celebrates winning bronze in the Women's Pentathlon during day three of the World Athletics Indoor Championships. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile.

You have to go back 14 years – to the 2012 edition in Helsinki – for the last time Ireland returned home empty-handed from the European Athletics Championships, having won nine medals from five editions since then.

That run was highlighted by the record haul of four medals from the last edition in Rome, two in relays. This time around, a relay medal looks impossible, and what chances existed disappeared after Sharlene Mawdsley and Rachel McCann were forced to withdraw from the women’s 4x400m with injury.

The good news for the thousands of fans travelling, however, is that Ireland has never had as strong a team of individuals at this event. There’s enough star power in their ranks to secure a similar haul to Rome. Which isn’t to say that will happen. Just that it could.

Kate O’Connor in the heptathlon. Sarah Healy in the 1500m and 5000m. Mark English and Cian McPhillips in the 800m. All four will walk into Alexander Stadium this week confident of a podium.

For others, like Rhasidat Adeleke in the 200m or Andrew Coscoran in the 1500m, it’s more about hope, their season’s bests well down the rankings but both possess the calibre to stand on that podium. Then there’s Nicola Tuthill in the hammer.

Fionnuala McCormack in the marathon. Darragh McElhinney, Nick Griggs and Brian Fay in the 5000m. Sophie O’Sullivan in the 1500m. A top-six or top-eight finish would be a decent showing for any of them. But all could get much closer if they fully fire.

For Irish team manager Teresa McDaid, recent results have instilled optimism, although her years of experience at major championships add a necessary note of caution.

“When you’re going in with the likes of Kate [O’Connor], obviously, it’s massive,” she says. “Our 800m men, my God, are we not in a great position? Same in the men’s 1500m, Andrew [Coscoran] has been knocking on that door and it could be time that door is answered.

“Sarah Healy, Nick Griggs, Darragh [McElhinney] in the 5000m. I’ve a feeling the women’s 200m might throw up something interesting. There’s always an element of luck too. That’s very important.” 

Midway through the Olympic cycle, McDaid knows momentum is building across the board in Irish athletics, though she knows the metric that matters most is medals.

“I do think our time is coming for LA [2028] and I hope I’m there under the floodlights to see us getting an Olympic medal,” she says. “Medals are currency and in order for us to protect the sport and its development, and continue its support financially and in every other way, that’s what’s going to do it.” 

Ireland’s best haul of individual medals from the Europeans? The three won in 1998 – two golds by Sonia O’Sullivan and a bronze by Mark Carroll. That’s a haul this team looks capable of equalling, and perhaps even surpassing. On your marks…