Enniskillen's Ellie McCartney into final as Larne's Danielle Hill part of world record-breaking European Aquatics Championships showpiece field in Paris

McCartney sealed a place in the showdown of the women’s 200m breaststroke with 2:24.15 across the semi-finals on Thursday evening.

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist McCartney posted a time of 2:26.95 to finish third in the opening heat of the event.

The National Centre Limerick swimmer will be aiming to move closer to her Personal Best of 2:23.79.

The final is at 5.43pm on Friday.

“I'm really happy, it’s a Season's Best, a little bit closer to my PB...so we'll see what we can do tomorrow,” said McCartney. “It's been great and being able to manage the two it's something that me and my coach (John Szaranek) have talked about.

"So being able to see it in progress, in the works and see that it's turning out okay, it's great.

"Last year we had about two weeks between under 23s and Worlds and that worked out pretty well...so, I tried to think of it this year as something similar, we knew from the start of year it was going to be the case so practising racing back-to-back throughout the past eight to 12 months is really helpful.

"I'm super excited, not only to race, but to do it alongside Mona (McSharry, Ireland team-mate) it's great...I'm not sure we've ever been in an international final together, so it's good to have the two of us and we'll really push each other along.”

Larne’s Danielle Hill came home eighth as defending European champion as Paris fans witnessed a world record-winning race by Sara Curtis of Italy in the women’s 50m backstroke final on Thursday evening.

"I’m really happy...obviously a little bit disappointed, I think there was a better swim in there,” said Hill on Swim Ireland after the final, with her appearance on the European stage following significant recovery from injury issues. “I finished a little bit short...which I’ve now done six times in a row.

"I know there’s a better swim but in those 50s it has to be perfect and that just wasn’t...but, listen, I’m happy to be back where I am again.

"Nine months ago I couldn’t get out of bed...my first physio session I remember having to sit down after five minutes because I felt nauseous.

"So I’ve come a long way since there.

"Even backstroke-wise it was the last thing that got introduced into the programme.

"So I think I’ve a really good block coming into the winter and just get the head again into LA (Olympic Games 2027)

A Season’s Best of 27.85 for eighth overall in Wednesday’s semi-final set up Hill’s shot at the main event.

Hill said after her semi-final: “I am so happy. I knew there was a swim in there that could make the final.

“It was about getting my hand on the wall and I obviously in Commonwealth Games was fourth (50m backstroke) and ninth (100m backstroke), so to be in that eighth and sneak in on the right side of it, it means a lot.

“So yeah, I'm really happy, it was an amazing race.”

Curtis had set a new world record of 26.63 in the semi-finals.