Andrew Coscoran makes 1500m semis, disappointment for Nick Griggs and Phil Healy

Andrew Coscoran executed a good run in a messy race to make the men's 1500m semi-finals at the European Athletics Championships in Rome on Monday morning.

Coscoran hit the front as they headed for the last lap - just before a tangle at the back of the group wiped out four athletes, who tumbled out of contention.

With a top-six finish required to progress, the Balbriggan native dug deep in the last 100 metres to hang on to fifth in 3:38.52. The imperious Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen won it in 3:37.65.

"I was pretty comfortable, ticked the box today, job done," Coscoran told RTÉ Sport.

"A lot of the races I've been in this year have been scrappy. You kind of get used to a lot of pushing and shoving. I knew I wanted to stay out of that if possible.

"The fitness is there. Now it's time to show it off."

In the same event, there was disappointment for Nick Griggs who went in a slow-paced and tactical earlier heat.

When the kick came, Griggs could not launch a sustained attack and slipped backwards, eventually finishing 14th after clocking 3:46.66. Great Britain's Neil Gourley won it in 3:44.05.

"I didn't execute the first 50 well enough."

Phil Healy on her 200m disappointment this morning as she looks ahead to the relay.#Roma2024 pic.twitter.com/k2KMjPxWtQ

Phil Healy failed to make the semis of the women's 200m.

The Cork woman went from lane 3 but, by her own admission aftewards, didn't make the start required to really put pressure on the front-runners.

She came home in fifth place in a time of 23.51, which was not enough to earn progression. Sweden's Nora Lindahl won the heat in 22.97 ahead of Lorene Dorcas Bazolo (23.18), Gunta Vaicule (23.23), Sarah Atcho-Jaquier (23.35) and then Healy.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Healy said: "It's