Ireland’s three finalists all finished outside the medals in this evening session of the World Para Allianz European Swimming championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin
Nicole Turner was the first in action, and she finished an agonising fourth in the 100m Breaststroke SB6 final.
Tuner was ranked fourth after finishing second in her heat, and the 16-year-old was swimming in her third consecutive final this week.
However she was back in fourth at the 50 metre mark and couldn’t get in the medal hunt in a race won by Britian’s Masie Newton Summers, the 16-year-old who set her second world record of the week in 1:33.63, some 10 seconds quicker than Turner.
Ellen Keane, a medallist for Ireland at the Rio Paralympics, was making her first appearance in the Women’s 100m Butterfly S9 final where she also finished fourth.
In what was a straight final with no heats, the 23-year-old Keane missed out on a bronze by two seconds to the Spaniard Nuria Marques Soto in a Spanish one-two, with her team mate Sarai Caccon taking the gold medal.
Elsewhere 16-year-old Barry McClements from Newtownards finished fifth in the S9 100m Butterfly final.
McClements said afterwards that he was disappointed with his time and place as he made the final in third place after a second place finish in his heat this morning.
Hayley Burke, Para Swimming Manager with Paralympics Ireland said afterwards: "There was huge experience gained today, especially for our younger team members. They are all really rising to the challenge.
"Barry McClements competed really well in an event in which he is considerably younger than his competitors which was a real bonus. We feel that good progress is being maintained and some really good lessons have been learned so far."
It will be a busy day in the pool for Ireland on Day 4. Patrick Flanagan, Keane, Ailbhe Kelly, Barry McClements, Jonathan McGrath and Turner - who will compete in a straight final at 6.04pm - are all in action.
