Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy begin Olympic defence in style

“If you look at the seeding list we are way down on it this time. I can’t even count how many names are above us. Maybe that is down to the lack of my counting abilities and I forgot my abacus, but the pressure is on everyone else here," said O'Donovan.

PULL LIKE AN UNDERDOG: Ireland's Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy compete in the lightweight men's double sculls rowing heat. Pic: AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi.

Vintage Paul O’Donovan in Paris on Sunday.

Not just on the water where he dovetailed once again with Fintan McCarthy to destroy a field in the lightweight men’s doubles, but off it afterwards when the cheeky chappie we knew from Rio made his return.