DOMINANT as usual, Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy powered to gold and glory at the European Rowing Championships in Munich on Sunday morning.
The Skibbereen duo defended the European crown they won in a dream 2021, and they were the class act in the A final of the men’s lightweight double.
Second at the halfway mark they just edged into first with 500 metres to go, and they pulled away from the Swiss and Italian crews in the final quarter to win in 6:34.72, by almost four seconds from Italy, with Switzerland in third.
Gold and glory for Paul O'Donovan & Fintan McCarthy in the A final of the lightweight men's double at the European Rowing Championships. pic.twitter.com/v2m3e0Ow4s
— Kieran McCarthy (@KieranMcC_SS) August 14, 2022
Also on Sunday morning, Leap’s Lydia Heaphy partnered Margaret Cremen in the Irish women’s lightweight double, and they turned in an heroic performance in the A final. First after 500 metres, they were still in the podium places with 500 to go, sitting in third, but they were just pipped to a bronze medal by the Italianboat, missing out on a medal by less than three-quarters of a second.
Also, Skibbereen rower Aoife Casey finished fourth in the A final of the women’s lightweight single after a brilliant effort that saw her finish less than 1.5 seconds behind the Netherlands’ Martine Veldhuis in third.
HIGH FIVE FOR THE DREAM TEAM
In their last five international regattas together in the Irish men's lightweight double, Paul O'Donovan & Fintan McCarthy have won gold in every one. Dominant.
2019 Worlds 🥇
2021 & 2022 Europeans 🥇🥇
2021 World Rowing Cup II🥇
2021 Olympics 🥇 pic.twitter.com/ird5wTr4Fu— Kieran McCarthy (@KieranMcC_SS) August 14, 2022
*****
Click here to sign up to our mailing list and get the best of West Cork delivered straight to your inbox.