LAST UPDATE | 28 Jul
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS FINTAN McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan made an impressive statement in Heat 3 of the Men’s Lightweight Double Sculls.
The Skibbereen pair finished first in a time of 6:34.12, some seven seconds clear of Norway in second.
Greece, who crossed the line third, go to the repechage while O’Donovan and McCarthy, major Irish medal hopes, go straight through to the A/B semi-finals in promising form.
Defending champions Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy leave their rivals toiling in their wake heats of the lightweight double sculls. #RTESport #Paris2024
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 28, 2024
📱Updates https://t.co/L6KjANG7Ol
📺Watch https://t.co/uHRfiPJEjQ pic.twitter.com/Z2h8L9MixU
Earlier, Aifric Keogh and Fiona Murtagh finished second in Heat 2 of the Women’s Pair.
The Irish boat was placed third for most of the 2,000m, but pipped Czechia at the line to take second.
Keogh and Murtagh upped the pace in the closing stages to hold off Team GB, who were gaining from fourth place, with three qualifying for the semi-final.
Romania led from the start and won in a time of 7:24.27. Ireland were second in 7:28.22, with Czechia third in 7:28.23.
Ross Corrigan and Nathan Timoney emerged from Heat 1 of the Men’s Pair in third place.
The Irish duo had to dig incredibly deep to edge out Switzerland in a pulsating heat, and progress to the A/B semi-final.
'It's an amazing feeling. We used to look back on our childhood and dream of being here'
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 28, 2024
Ross Corrigan and Nick Timoney very satisfied after their men's pairs heat#RTESport #Paris2024 #rowing
📱Report https://t.co/WBp9bzRRah
📺Watch https://t.co/uHRfiPJEjQ pic.twitter.com/dUM0zFbCft
Spain were the winners in 6:32.28, with New Zealand second, 6:32.44, and Ireland third with 6:32.69 – just two two hundreds of a second ahead of the Swiss in photo finish.
Margaret Cremem and Aoife Casey finished third in Heat 1 of the Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls, behind Greece in second and the British crew of Emily Craig and Imogen Grant in first.
The Irish pair finished in a time of 7:12.89, four second behind Greece and eight behind team GB, meaning they’re headed for the repechage.
Emily Hegarty, Natalie Long, Eimear Lambe and Imogen Magner finished third in Heat 2 of the Women’s Four. They go through to the repechage now, with Australia in fourth.
The Netherlands won in a time of 6:43.71, with Romania second.
