Olympic medallist Paul O'Donovan is through to A final at world rowing championships

BY KIERAN McCARTHY

A GOOD month just keeps on getting better for Lisheen’s Paul O’Donovan as he has qualified in style for the A final of the men’s lightweight single sculls at the world senior rowing championships in Rotterdam.

Paul and his older brother Gary won silver medals at the Olympics in Rio less than two weeks ago, and now competing on his own in a single at the worlds, the younger brother kept up the impressive form he has shown all week.

Having won his heat and quarter-final already this week, Paul (22) won this semi-final as well on Thursday afternoon, to go through to Saturday’s A final.

O’Donovan was sixth after the first 500 metres, but very little separated the six crews. Paul was up to fourth by the halfway stage in 3:27.94, and with 500 metres to go, he was in second place (5:12.33). With his stroke rate up at 42 inside the last 200 metres to win in 6:51.71, ahead of Slovenia and Germany.

It was another massive performance by Paul who will go for gold on Saturday.