Ireland finished bottom of their group at the European Team Badminton championships after losing 3-2 to Poland. After losing 4-1 to Finland overnight and going down 3-2 to the Swiss it was their third defeat out of three.

For the second time Sonya McGinn, the national champion failed to play at her best, losing her way in the decider of her three set match with Kataryna Trasovska. Despite an 11-2 comeback in the second game she lost 1-11, 11-2, 511.

However, Elaine Kiely was the star of the Ireland's day. As Donal O'Halloran ran into trouble with his serve in their mixed doubles, Kiely gave him a verbal dressing down to get him back on track.

"I thought the pole was moving early as I served and I lost my concentration" he explained. "Kiely was a marvel". They won 15-7, 8-15, 15-5.

Teamed with McGinn in the final ladies doubles, she played another stormer to help notch up a 15-11, 15-11 victory.

"I felt like a different person out there today", she said.