Six Irish crews carry medal prospects into finals

Ireland's Paul O'Donovan, left, and Fintan McCarthy compete in their A/B semi-final of the Lightweight Men's Double Sculls yesterday in the European Rowing Championships at Varese, Italy. Photo: Roberto Bregani/Sportsfile

Robert Treharne Jones

April 11 2021 02:30 AM

Ireland’s lightweight double sculls were on top form for the semi-finals at the European Championships in Italy yesterday. Both crews secured places in their finals to add to the qualifying slots achieved by their teammates in Friday’s heats, so six Irish crews will be in contention for today’s medals.

Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy made no mistakes in their lightweight double, although it was the Italians, Stefano Oppo and Pietro Ruta who were first at the 500m, with Ireland third. In the second quarter O’Donovan and McCarthy turned up the heat and blew the leaders away, finishing with clear water ahead of Italy, while the Czech Republic just snatched third.

Aoife Casey and Margaret Cremen were similarly impressive in the women’s event, but were down on Italy and Russia after 500m. Ireland coach Dominic Casey had evidently tutored his daughter and her partner in the art of tactics, as they hung on to the Russian push at halfway, biding their time for a burst of their own. With 150m to go Casey and Cremen squeezed into second but there was no stopping Valentina Rodini and Federica Cesarini who won for Italy with Ireland second.

But there was disappointment for Philip Doyle and Ronan Byrne in the men’s double sculls. The 2019 world silver medallists got off to a sluggish start, and were never really in touch with the pack. France, Great Britain and Switzerland qualified for the A final, with Doyle and Byrne slipping to sixth place and missing the cut.

Clonmel sculler Daire Lynch has been finding it tough going in his first senior international in the single scull. Fifth place in his heat on Friday forced him into the repechages, where he placed fourth in his second race of the day, but in yesterday’s CD semi-final he began to find his form. After 500m he was second to the Russian, Nikolay Pimenov, and the two scullers fought their own battle to go clear of third placed Cyprus. Pimenov won ahead of Lynch and the two scullers will context the C final today.

With six crews in today’s finals Ireland’s rowers are already enjoying their best-ever results at the Europeans, and have real prospects of a medal in all six. For the women’s four of Aifric Keogh, Eimear Lambe, Fiona Murtagh and Emily Hegarty this regatta is especially important, as a strong performance here will help provide the impetus they need for the Olympic qualifying event next month in Switzerland.