Irish rowers claim two more medals at World Cup

Fintan McCarthy finished third in the singles B final on his debut among the heavyweights

Zoe Hyde, right, and Margaret Cremen celebrate with their women's double bronze medals. Pic: Benedict Tufnell/Sportsfile

The women's double of Mags Cremen and Zoe Hyde, along with Fiona Murtagh in the singles, won bronze medals for Ireland at the World Rowing World Cup in Seville on Sunday.

For Cork's Cremen and and Kerry's Hyde, it was their first competitive outing since their seventh place finish at the World Championships in Shanghai last September. 

In the same race, their teammates Sophia Young and Alison Bergin finished in their debut as a partnership. The competition was fierce from the Olympic champion Romanian crew and highly fancied Dutch pair. 

In blisteringly hot conditions Galway's Murtagh capped off the squad’s first World Rowing regatta of the season with a gutsy performance, claiming third position on the podium behind Great Britain and Lithuania.

The women’s four of Natalie Long, Imogen Magner and debutants Emma Fagan and Claire Feerick, finished sixth in an A final stacked with quality from the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain. The experience in such company will be a massive positive for the developing crew of as they look to build for the rest of the season.

Completing his heavyweight singles debut, lightweight double Olympic champion Fintan McCarthy led in the early stages of his hotly contested B final.

However, strong finishes from Portugal and Slovenia meant the Skibbereen RC rower had to settle for third place. The men’s pair of Adam Murphy and Fionnán McQuillan-Tolan placed sixth in their B final.

On Saturday, Izzy Clements won silver in the lightweight single. 

"I’m really proud of the athletes’ performances in Seville, it shows where we are, and where the international competitive level is, so we’re in a great place," said Rowing Ireland high performance director Niall O'Carroll.

"It’s been a valuable first season hit-out to confirm we’re on track as we look to qualification for LA28, and will give us both encouragement and insights for our approach going forward."