Ciara Mageean wins gold and Adeleke and Mawdsley set up final showdown: As it happened on memorable night for Ireland (2024)

Ciara Mageean has just given a heartwarming interview to RTÉ. She can't take the smile off her face.

"Do you know what, words can't even come close. Everybody back home knows how long I've been doing this and how hard I've been trying."

On finding a gap at the pivotal time, she adds: "I didn't grow up playing camogie to get boxed in!"

Ciara Mageean takes gold for Ireland in the 1500m final

Incredible, the 32-year-old is a European champion! She ran the race to perfection, finding a gap between the British pair to make her move. Mageean's time was 4.04.66, while Sarah Healy finishes seventh after clocking 4.06.77.

Running out one-by-one, the athletes are currently being introduced to the Stadio Olimpico crowd.

This is a massive opportunity for both Irish competitors, but Mageean in particular.

Remember, the race is live on RTÉ 2 and the RTÉ Player if you want to watch it.

Speaking on the RTÉ panel, Sonia O'Sullivan looks ahead to the 1500m final.

"I still can't find someone who's going to lead it. A lot of the girls in here are very well-matched. There are a lot of girls who think they can win it, including Ciara Mageean. Sarah could sneak in too.

"The challenges will come from the British girls, possibly the Spanish. The main thing will be, if there are a lot of girls in a bunch, it will be who can stay relaxed."

Rob Heffernan follows up by backing Mageean to win.

15-minute warning for the 1500m final

Due off at 9.40pm, two Irish athletes – Ciara Mageean and Sarah Healy – are in the hunt for a medal in the 1500m final.

Mageen, a two-time medallist at the European Championships, will be seen as one of the favourites to gold. The Portaferry native eased to third in the heats, with a time of 4:06.81.

“The plan is to get out there and get on that podium,” Mageen said on Friday. “I feel like I'm ready for whatever. I know the speeds in my legs and I'm ready for that. So I'm just happy to give it a lash and get out there.

"I feel like I'm coming into this championship as a favourite, which is probably somewhere I've never really been before, so that comes with its added pressure."

Fifth for Smyth in 200m semi-final

Mark Smyth puts in a fine performance, clocking a season best time of 20.86, to take fifth place and he won't be in the final.

Filippo Tortu of Italy claims top spot.

Right, here goes Mark Smyth. The Raheny Shamrock AC runner, who is in Lane 3, needs to finish in the top two or record a time that puts him in the next two fastest.

It's a lot to ask from Smyth as he will have to run faster than he ever has, but let's see how he fares.

It's on to the 200m semi-finals, where Dubliner Mark Smyth is running in the third of three.

He finished fourth in his heat earlier today and qualified as one of the 12 fastest runners.

Speaking on the RTÉ panel, Derval O'Rourke says it is a big step up for the 25-year-old, who has had his issues with injuries.

Rhasidat Adeleke will have Poland's Natalia Kaczmarek, Dutch athlete Lieke Klaver and Britain's Laviai Nielsen as her main challengers in tomorrow's 400m final.

Here's confirmation of the finalists.

"That's the job done. The plan was to come in the top two, obviously that was automatic qualification for tomorrow's final, which is insane.

"I think I'm still feeling the repercussions of two days ago [the 4x400m mixed relay final]. I'm wrecked."

Sharlene Mawdsley is delighted with her qualification for the 400m final.

DQ handed to O'Donnell

There is some news on Chris O'Donnell and the Irish athlete has been disqualified for lane infringement.

O'Donnell just misses out after solid run

What a performance from Chris O'Donnell, who keeps fighting all the way to take fourth with a time of 45.72.

That won't be enough to earn him a place in the final, but it is a really encouraging display.