Munster Express Online

The Long Course Swimming nations concluded last weekend in style at the National Aquatic Centre, Abbotstown. The new High Performance Director for Swim Ireland Peter Banks was very impressed as he witnessed numerous Irish swimming records broken over the four day meet. Banks’ appointment has been broadly welcomed as a step in the right direction; he left Ireland in 1989 and has coached age-group, national, international and Olympic swimmers in America. Olympic medal winners Brooke Bennett and Maritza Correia were coached by the Dublin native.

Waterford Crystal’s team comprised of James Hassey, Joe Murphy, Ken Breathnach, Peter Doyle, Shauna O’Brien, Louise Kent, Niamh Cleary, Colm Dowling, Tommy Bergin, Diarmaid Brennan, Megan Fitzgerald, David O’Sullivan, Ciaran Halpin, and Darragh O’Rourke.

The most successful swimmer for Crystal was Colm Dowling, Colm won the 50m Backstroke in 27.32 and the 100m Backstroke in 58.62. As well as reaching several finals Colm was once again in the medals in the 200m medley where his time of 2.09.06 was good for 2nd place. Colm put his team before individual glory as he pulled out of the 200m backstroke to increase the clubs chances of glory in the relay.

Tommy Bergin won the 200m fly in amazing fashion, Ards swimmer Chris Hamilton lead all the way until the final metre, with Tommy getting the touch 0.04 second ahead of the Ards man. Interviewed afterwards for OB sport, the shy WIT student said ‘I just gave it everything; you train all year for this, and it was the will to win that won that race for me’.

Joe Murphy came second in the 200m freestyle with a time of 1.54.26; he also qualified for many finals including the 100m free, 400m free and 200m medley.

Hopes were high that Crystal’s Joe Murphy, Colm Dowling, Tommy Bergin, and the experienced James Hassey had a realistic medal chance in the senior 400m medley relay. The boys gave their all in the semi finals and could not believe their 4.00.19 finishing time. Next thing they knew was the gala commentator congratulated them on setting a new Irish senior record.

The competition for medals at this gala was fierce; in the 100m women’s freestyle 1st placed Fiona Doyle set a new Irish record of 56.62, which saw her qualify for the world championships. Second place went to Clare Dawson, who held the Irish record, Clare Byrne of Trojan Swimming Club was third (58.43), and 4th was Crystal’s Shauna O’Brien in a time of 58.85. Shauna also reached finals in the 50m fly, in the 200m medley she finishing 4th producing a 3 sec PB. In the 200m free B final she was 2nd.

Darragh O’Rourke was again in the medals in the separate U12 category, coming second in the 200m backstroke. Ciaran Halpin also underage was very impressive in the 200m freestyle final, finishing 5th with a major PB. He was unfortunate in the 200m medley heats as, following a refereeing decision, he was disqualified for an alleged faulty turn.

Ken Breathnach reached the 400m freestyle B final, 50m and 100m free semis and improves at every gala, as does David O’Sullivan, who reached the 50 fly and 100m fly semi-finals. Niamh Cleary, Megan Fitzgerald, and Diarmaid Brennan continue to knock valuable seconds off at every gala.

Well done to one and all.