Irish crews get shot at medal glory after semi-final victories

THE lightweight double of Sam Lynch and Gearóid Towey and the coxless four, stroked by Paul Griffin, both had semi-final wins on the Idroscalo lake in Milan yesterday to ease through to Sunday’s A finals at the World Championships.

They joined the lightweight pair, who qualified for their final on Wednesday, meaning that Ireland have three crews in the world's top six.

With the double and four being Olympic events, and this regatta doubling as an Athens qualifier, both boats have also comfortably booked their tickets to Greece, finishing inside the top 11 in their respective fields.

The Munster pairing of Lynch and Towey had a favourable draw with race rivals Russia, New Zealand, Japan and Australia having come through repechages. They led after 500m but were second at 1,000m in 3:10.91, with two to qualify and Australia leading the way.

French crew Fabrice Moreau and Frederic Dufour, in their first season together, had a surprise heat win over the United States and were pushing both crews with 500m to go.

The Irish held in their reserves at second (4:47.18) and over half-a-second behind the Australians.

A great last push saw them edge past France, who took the second final place, to claim the win in 6:22.07, with Australia, led by Olympic silver medallist Anthony Edwards, were left desolate in third.

A medal is not beyond Ireland in a final in which any of the six crews could take gold the Italian world record holders will be favourites on home soil.

With an average age of just 23, the Irish lightweight fours impressed once again with their second win of the week, with 6:00.82, half-a-second ahead of the fast-finishing Dutch crew. Three crews advanced to the final, with Canada, bronze medallists last year, taking the last spot.

Ireland, with Eugene Coakley and Timmy Harnedy of Skibbereen excelling, led at each intermediate with close to a two seconds lead on the field. Australia, fourth at Seville 2002, failed to find a final spot, disappointing in fourth. The Irish quartet will have their work cut out to claim a medal in the final with world champions Denmark and 2002 finalists' Italy and Germany joining them from the second semi-final.