Heavyweights in tough B final

THE Irish heavyweight fours will be in good company in this evening’s Olympic B Rowing final at Shunyi Park, (5.50pm, local; 10.50am, Irish).

The crew of Cormac Folan, Sean Casey, Jonno Devlin and Sean O’Neill finished last in a speedy semi-final in which Great Britain, Australia and France claimed the top three spots. Ireland came home in 5.58.14, 3.37 behind Team GB. But Irish team manager Mike Heskin stressed there will be some big reputations alongside the quartet in today’s B decider.

“It is extraordinary that they will be joined by the world gold, silver and bronze medallists New Zealand, Italy and Holland. All three came here with huge expectations.