Fionnula McCormack had to settle for a fourth-placed finish at the European Cross Country Championships, on a day when Efrem Gidey and Stephanie Cotter secured individual bronze medals in the underage categories, and Ireland secured two silver medals in the team events.

McCormack, however, had to settle for fourth place in the senior race as she was edged out of the medals by Sweden's Samrawit Mengsteab during the final kilometre of the race.

Turkey's Yasemin Can secured the gold medal with Norwegian Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal finishing in second place.

The consolation for former two-time champion, McCormack, was a team silver, as Aoibhe Richardson and Ciara Mageean finished 17th and 20th respectively to secure a second place finish in the team standings.

Mengsteab eventually edged McCormack out of the medals on the tough Lisbon course

Earlier, Cotter came home in third place in the under-23 race to secure the individual bronze medal, while alongside team-mates, Eilish Flanagan and Roisin Flanagan, they were the three athletes, of the six running, whose scores were counted, leaving Ireland on 29 points to take team silver.

The Netherlands took gold with 17 points, with Great Britain ending up third on 40.

Efrem Gidey, on his international debut for Ireland, also picked up a bronze medal in the men's Under-20 race.

The Clonliffe Harriers athlete looked good for a silver for long stages, but eventually had to settle for third.

"Before I was thinking that I need a top ten place," he said afterwards.

"Third place.. I'm so happy, I don't believe it. That's amazing."

The under-20 team agonisingly missed out on bronze after Portugal moved into the spot following a recheck of the results. 

In the men's senior race, Sean Tobin was the first of the Irish contingent home in 18th place, finishing over a minute behind gold medallist Robel Fsiha.