Max McCusker and Darragh Greene miss out on finals at European Swimming Championships

Ireland’s Max McCusker and Darragh Greene bowed out of the 50m butterfly and 100m breaststroke respectively on the opening night of finals at the European Swimming Championships in Rome.

McCusker was first up this evening in the 50m butterfly semi-final. After a fantastic start off the blocks the Dolphin (Cork) swimmer was caught to finish seventh in his heat in 23.75. It was a first senior individual semi-final for the 22-year-old who still has a number of other races to come this week.

After a prolonged break following the Olympic Games, Darragh Greene was competing in his first international meet since Tokyo. The Longford and National Centre Dublin swimmer clocked 1:01.39 in the 100m breaststroke to finish in 16th place overall. Greene returns to the pool on Saturday for the 200m breaststroke heats.

It is another busy day in Rome on Friday as McCusker returns in the 100m freestyle with Danielle Hill in the 50m butterfly and Liam Custer in the 800m freestyle.

Tactical breakdown: How Mickey Harte’s side have evolved into Derry 2.0

---

Davy Fitzgerald and Waterford aiming to end unwanted Munster record

---

Joe McCarthy, another Bakkies Botha in the making?

---

Blue bloods: IRFU ‘national’ contract system will continue to load the dice in Leinster’s favour

---

Mona McSharry, Niamh Coyne and Ellie McCartney make their first appearance of the championships in the 100m breaststroke, as does Robbie Powell in the 100m freestyle. And Ireland will be represented in the mixed 4x100m medley relay by Danielle Hill, Eoin Corby, Brendan Hyland, and Victoria Catterson.