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Gary, Denise, Lydia, Fintan and Jake to row at Europeans - but Paul is notable absentee

May 15th, 2019 5:05 PM

By Kieran McCarthy

Paul O'Donovan will miss the Europeans but Gary will compete in a lightweight single.

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Five Skibb rowers named in Rowing Ireland team for European Championships

FIVE Skibbereen rowers have been selected on the Rowing Ireland team for the 2019 European Rowing Championships.

Twins Fintan and Jake McCarthy (who feature on this week's Star Sport Podcast) will compete in the men’s lightweight double, Denise Walsh and Lydia Heaphy will race together in the women’s lightweight double, while Gary O'Donovan will row in the men’s lightweight single.

The notable absentee is three-time world champion Paul O’Donovan but the Lisheen man is unable to compete in the Europeans due to his ongoing academic studies and exams running up to early June.

Rowing Ireland have said, ‘he continues to train and will be available for the rest of the season after the Europeans.’

Gary and Paul were crowned world champions in the men’s lightweight double last year and remain Ireland’s best hope of an Olympic medal in 2020.

The Irish team will arrive and train in Lucerne from May 27th in preparation for the Europeans that will take place from May 31st – June 2nd.

The full Irish team is:

W1x – Sanita Puspure (Old Colleagians)

W2x – Monika Dukaraka (Killorglin), Aifric Keogh (UCC)

M2x – Ronan Byrne (UCC), Phil Doyle (QUBBC)

Lw2x – Denise Walsh, Lydia Heaphy (Skibbereen)

Lm1x – Gary O'Donovan (Skibbereen)

Lm2x – Fintan McCarthy, Jake McCarthy (Skibbereen)

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