Jason Harvey disqualified at European U23s after false start

Northern Ireland 400 metre hurdler Jason Harvey suffered huge disappointment as he was disqualified for false starting in the semi-finals at the European Under-23 Championships.

Harvey's target in Finland was progressing to the final but that was shattered by his disqualification.

His Irish team-mate Thomas Barr did progress to the final after setting a new personal best of 49.78 in Tampere.

Barr cut .22secs off his previous best as he finished third in his semi-final.

In Thursday's opening heats, Harvey's time of 50.65 left him in second place behind Serbian Emir Bekric (50.48).

Barr improved his personal best to 50.00 in Cork a week ago while Harvey set his best of 50.27 last month.

Harvey, 21, is coached by former Olympian and 2003 World Indoor 400m medallist Paul McKee.

The hurdler's disqualification followed Letterkenny athlete Mark English's exit from the Championships on Thursday.

The Donegal man finished a brilliant fifth at last year's World Junior Championships but he failed to progress from the opening 800m heats in Tampere.

Seemingly still troubling by a recent illness, English could only finish third in his qualifier in 1:49.65 - nearly four seconds outside his personal best.

Hammer thrower Conor McCullough qualified for Saturday's final as he produced a season's best of 69.40m while Catherine McManus won her 100m heat in 11.74 seconds but exited in the later semi-finals after clocking 11.98.

Richard Morrissey qualified for the 400m final after finishing third in his heat in a personal best 46.57 but his team-mate Dara Kervick exited following a fifth place in his qualifier in 47.44.

Morrissey went on finish seventh in Friday's final in a time of 46.61.

Waterford athlete Shane Quinn narrowly missed out a medal in the 10,000m as he took a fine fourth in a personal best of 29:49.43.