Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy turn attention to semi duties

Ireland's Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy compete in the lightweight men's double sculls rowing heat. Pic: Ebrahim Noroozi, AP

It's time to find out, to see if that rare defeat Ireland's star rowing duo suffered back in May was an anomaly - a mere blip in their consistent brilliance - or if it really was an early fissure that will see their empire crumble here in Paris.

In the lightweight double sculls semi-final at the Vaires-sur-Marne this morning, Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy will size up to Swiss pair Jan Schaeuble and Raphael Ahumada. They've got some history.