Watch: Heroes welcome - and a free lift home to Cork - for Olympians O'Donovan and McCarthy

They may be on top of the world, but Skibbereen duo are nothing if not grounded

Paul O'Donovan, left, and Fintan McCarthy of Team Ireland celebrate with their gold medals after winning the men's lightweight double sculls A final at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Irish Olympic heroes Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy received a welcome fit for heroes after touching down in Dublin on Tuesday, before - in the most Irish of circumstances - taking a fellow passenger up on an offer of a free lift back to Cork.

O’Donovan and McCarthy’s impressive win in the men's lightweight double sculls final last Friday made them the first Irish athletes to defend an Olympic title since Pat O'Callaghan back in 1932.