Deaflympics: Irish snatch bronze

From: Belfast Telegraph, UK - Jan 10, 2005

By David Kelly
sportseditor@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
10 January 2005

It proved a bitter-sweet weekend for David McIlroy at the Deaflympics in Melbourne.

Lisburn man McIlroy missed out on a bronze medal in the 50m breaststroke by just 100th of a second.

But then McIlroy returned to the pool with fellow Irish swimmers John Kealy, Alan Turner and Eoin Nolan to take bronze in the 4x200m freestyle relay.

McIlroy also had the honour of carrying the Irish flag at the opening ceremony.

As expected World class South African Terence Parkin took gold in the 50m breast in 29.36 ahead of Ukraine's Zurgalidze, Andriy, 30.44, and American Dale Parker 30.62. McIlroy clocked 30.63 as all four broke the world deaf record.

South Africa took gold in the relay in 8:03.03 ahead of Ukraine, 8:15.35 and Ireland 8:18.56. Great Britain were fourth.

Veteran Kealy, from Arklow won silver in 100 butterfly.

The Irish footballers are through to next round. After losing to Great Britain 2-0, they went on to defeat Greece, 3-1 and Australia 11-0.

2005 Independent News and Media (NI) a division of Independent News & media (UK) Ltd