Irish boss McElroy happy Puspure has proven gloomy prediction wrong

A little over 12 months ago Ireland’s rowing team manager, Martin McElroy, sat in a plush conference room at the top table of a London Olympic briefing.

McElroy was positioned alongside officials from swimming, canoeing and sailing as they outlined their hopes for the Games.

Then the Galway man took to the podium and made a startling admission. With little sugar coating he revealed Ireland would not have a representative in London, that the cupboard was bare in terms of men’s talent at this level and his focus was on Rio in 2016.