Daniella Hill into backstroke final at European Short Course Championships

Daniella Hill is through to the 50m backstroke final, while seven Irish swimmers progressed to their respective semi-finals on day four of the European Short Course Championships in Romania.

Hill, and Maria Godden, were first in action this morning with both taking places in the 100m backstroke semi-final. Hill touched in 59.24 for 14th overall, while Godden was 15th in 59.39.

Hill will complete a double this evening with the 100m backstroke first up, followed by the 50m backstroke Final an hour later.

New Ross's Evan Bailey secured his first senior international semi-final in the men's 200m freestyle. Bailey, competing at his first senior international meet swam a personal best time of 1:46.65 to advance 15th overall.

The 18-year-old said after the race: "It’s great to be in against the guys in there, against all those seniors, it’s just a great experience, you learn so much, turns, underwaters, and can bring that home and work on it."

Ellen Walshe, who has already claimed the 400m individual medley bronze medal, completed an impressive double.

Walshe won her heat of the 100m butterfly in 57.59 and was third fastest overall, just twenty minutes later, she won her 200m individual medley heat in 2:11.62, with the ninth fastest time to secure her second semi-final this evening.

Ellie McCartney was also impressive in the 200m individual medley, touching in 2:11.99 to progress to the semi-final tenth overall.

In a situation not faced by Ireland previously, Ards’ Grace Davison (2:14.36), despite finishing in the top sixteen, missed out on making the semi-final, with a rule in place that only two swimmers per nation can progress past the heats.

Max McCusker completed the morning for Ireland, making the semi-final of the 50m butterfly.