Mona McSharry eases through heat at Irish Open Championships

Mona McSharry breezed over her first hurdle at the 2025 Irish Open Swimming Championships, easing into the 100m breaststroke semi-finals.

On a weekend when McSharry dipped back into the waters of an Irish pool, Ballyshannon native Cora Rooney has sealed a place in the 100m backstroke final.

At the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre, Olympic Games bronze medalist McSharry - representing Marlins Swimming Club in Ballyshannon - came through her heat in 1:07.53.

Out of lane 4 in the final heat, the 24-year-old McSharry had a bit to spare on Niamh Connery, who touched the wall in 1:10.43.

In the previous heat, Ellie McCartney won in 1:07.99 to go through to Sunday evening’s semi-finals as the second fastest qualifier.

McSharry was around two seconds down on her 1:05.51 Irish record in her favoured event, but the Grange native still coasted into the next phase.

Letterkenny woman Molly Nulty was fourth in McSharry’s heat. The Swilly Seals competitor finished out of lane 7 in 1:13.68 and will also swim again in the semi-finals.

In the 100m backstroke, Ballyshannon woman Cora Rooney came through the semi-finals of the 100m backstroke. 

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In the preliminaries, Rooney, of Swilly Seals and who is a part of the Swim Ireland National Centre (Limerick) squad, clocked 1:04.61 and touched the wall in 1:04.34 in the semi-final and will go in the final later today.