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Swimmer Murphy makes it to semi-final

Dubliner Barry Murphy has continued his rehabilitation in incredible fashion by making the semi finals of the men's 50 metres breaststroke at the World Swimming Championships . By Ciaran Farrell - 28/07/09

Murphy was the eighth fastest qualifier at the event in Rome, and his time of 27.26 seconds was for a short time a new Championship record - before the faster heats pushed him down to eighth overall. It is still, however, a new Irish record.

The sportsman must be over the moon at his performance, after his heartbreak when he found out he wouldn't be part of the Irish Oymplic team for Beijing,

The Tennesse based swimmer now faces a second swim in the event tonight, and if he can pull another star performance out of the hat, and do it in a time close to that 27 second mark then he could reach the final.

But first for Murphy are the semis, which kick off at 5pm UK time today.

Two other Irish swimmers were in the morning’s heats, but both Claire Dawson and Niamh O'Sullivan failed to shine, and as a result did not make it to the evening semis.