'When Ciara smiled, I thought here we go' - Mageean family savouring golden moment

The moment Ciara Mageean smiled coming onto the final bend in her 1500m European Championships final, her father Christopher was convinced she would claim gold.

The Portaferry native finished superbly after a tactical final in Rome, bursting through a gap between Great Britain athletes Jemma Reekie and Georgia Bell to power down the home straight and collect her third European medal, but her first gold to go along with bronze (2016) and silver in Munich two years ago.

Mageean won in a time of 4:04.66 to add to European golds claimed by Sonia O'Sullivan and the mixed relay team of Tom Barr, Rhasidat Adeleke, Sharlene Mawdsley and Chris O’Donnell earlier this week.

Speaking to RTÉ’s Conor Macauley in Portaferry today, Mageean’s parents expressed their unbridled joy at the incredible feat.

Her father Christopher said her camogie background, referenced by Ciara in her post-race interview, was a key part to her resilient finish in Rome – "she has that edge, she’s always had it" – but insisted the key moment came on the final bend.

Gold