Time for Irish rowers to show off medal credentials

MEDAL HUNTING: Fintan McCarthy, left, and Paul O'Donovan of Team Ireland celebrate after their men’s lightweight double sculls semi-final at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Now it’s their turn. 

The swimmers have done their thing, two of them already firing Ireland further up the medal table than most expected them to be at this point of the Games. 

But now it’s time for Ireland’s rowers to offer up proof that they, too, can prove a bountiful source of those precious pieces of metal.

Daire Lynch and Philip Doyle will be the first of four Irish crews to take to the water at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium over the next two days, holding a major medal chance in today’s A final of the double sculls, which goes to the line at 10.30am Irish time.

The Dutch pairing of Melvin Twellaar and Stef Broenink is the one to beat, having won gold in last year’s world final where they finished four seconds ahead of Doyle and Lynch, who won bronze. 

They were Olympic silver medallists three years ago in Tokyo, when Doyle, alongside Ronan Byrne, underperformed and fell short of the A final. Today is his shot at redemption.

They Irish were hugely impressive when taking victory in their semi-final on Tuesday in 6:13.14, the Dutch winning the other semi-final in 6:13.60. 

“I was always transparent that I wanted to make it to the medal final,” said Doyle. “It’s looking good from now on.” 

Daire Lynch, left, and Philip Doyle of Team Ireland on their way to winning their men’s double sculls semi-final. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

If they perform to their potential, they should land Ireland’s first rowing medal of these Games, and another will likely follow a day later as Olympic champions Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarty line up for the lightweight double sculls A final.

They unleashed a dominant display to win their semi-final yesterday in 6:21.88 and while O’Donovan said they’re still the underdogs, and that it was a “big upset” to beat Switzerland, no one was really buying it, not after a performance like that.

The biggest challenge in the final will likely come from Italy’s Stefano Oppo and Gabriel Soares, who took victory in the second semi-final in 6:22.85. 

“I felt good with the performance, the legs are feeling strong, we were moving the boat well on training camp and we’d a lot of fatigue in the legs then,” said O’Donovan. “We’re very much looking forward to Friday. I think it will be a tough race.” 

Ross Corrigan and Nathan Timoney got the Irish off to a flying start yesterday by finishing third in their men’s pair semi-final in 6:32.22, moving on to tomorrow’s final. 

“We’re obviously buzzed, excited, but the job’s not done,” said Timoney. “We’re going to go for that medal, a gold medal – it’s all or nothing for us.” 

In the lightweight women’s double sculls, Aoife Casey and Mags Cremin produced a storming last quarter to overhaul France – the Olympic silver medallists in Tokyo – and take the third qualifying spot for the A final.

“Our focus was to get out of the start strong, get into our race pace and then you’re just thinking of (getting) one split faster to put yourselves in the right position for the sprint,” said Casey. 

“We’re really excited to have achieved our goal of the A final and super excited for Friday, to see what we can leave on the water.” 

There was bitter disappointment for women’s pair Fiona Murtagh and Aifric Keogh, who finished sixth in their semi-final and will line up for the B final tomorrow.