THE O’DONOVAN BROTHERS — Gary and Paul — booked their spot in the European Championships lightweight men’s double sculls semi-finals as they eased to victory in their heat earlier today.
The Skibbereen duo were comfortable winners in their opening race in Glasgow, finishing with a time of 6:27.99.
France started brightest and set the early pace but Cork’s O’Donovans soon took control and finished 1.87 seconds ahead of the pair, but they both qualified for Saturday’s A/B semis.
The brothers are in high spirits after adding another title to their collection two weeks ago at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne as they took gold. The Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalists will hope for another podium finish at Strathclyde Country Park in the coming days.
Elsewhere, an incredible finish from fellow Skibbereen duo Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll saw them move from fourth to second in their repechage and qualify for the A/B semi-finals on the men’s pair.
They finished behind Serbia with a remarkable sprint at 47 strokes per minute crossing the line.
Denise Walsh and Aoife Casey will hope to follow in their footsteps tomorrow morning. They placed fourth of six in their lightweight doubles heat but must finish in the top two in tomorrow’s repechage to make the final.
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O Shea is diving all over the place when anyone comes near him and then he is complaining when a free is given against him when he effectively clothes lines a Galway player.
@Finnster: You could say he is hanging them out to dry
@Finnster: must be cold in Galway. They have the blanket well and truly out.
Mayo have been poor in attack. OShea keeping in the game. Galway can’t handle him.
@Finnster: pathetic from Galway at the end with the game won. OShea really has the patience of a saint. And he gets booked as well. Laughable.
@Desheen: agreed. Comer is turning into a very good player but he needs to stop the mouthing while it was pathetic by Paul conroy at the end. Galway still need to do it on a big day and in croker though, potentially a good team.
@Paul Mallon: I think Mayo still need to do it on big day in croker too
@thomas: yea fair point. Hopefully Galway really push on as the gaa need as many teams as possible competing come August time.
@Finnster: are you for real . We’re you at the game ? Mayo can’t take the beating. Galway are no angels but Mayo were filthy today.
@Finnster: and dey didnt beat de dubs in the final…
@Finnster: Mayo were drawn into it alright and are rightly no angles. I was referring to that specific incident. Mayo lost the heads also after that. Galway deserves the win but that was hard to watch. Fair play to them great start to d1.
It will be nice and spicy come the championship. How bad was the last ten minutes? Only heard it on the radio.sounded like a few cheap shots but I am glad Galway are showing some serious spine. Our football team was too nice for a long time.
Safe to say O’Connors league campaign hasent got off to the best of starts
@Sam Walsh: He’s good but he’s a liability, about time he was shown a red card
@Sam Walsh: hes no diarmud connolly.
@John Boyle: Maybe so but I wouldent be too worried if I was a Mayo fan. Still a top class side.
Delighted to see a ref brave enough to send that tramp O’Connor off. He’s always at it. But but but Mayo aren’t dirty of course.
@Ciara Baines: agreed , he was the same last year in the championship against Galway and now O Shea is at it. Galway slowly but surely coming good
@Ciara Baines: mayo are pure dorty . Dey were throwin gps’s at the dubs in the final last year