28-06-2025
Irish crews featuring Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy qualify for openweight final at World Cup event in in Lucerne
In the semi-final of the double sculls, McCarthy and his new partner, Konan Pazzaia and O'Donovan, teaming up with Daire Lynch, both qualified for the final. The Olympic champions, Romania, finished sixth and must settle for a B Final place.
McCarthy and Pazzaia were deemed Ireland One, and showed why. The bronze medallists from last month's European Championships started superbly and saw off all challengers to win. Britain and New Zealand kept them honest, while O'Donovan and Lynch left their best work until late on.
As Britain faded, Ireland two came through to take third behind the Kiwis. Just three crews go through to Sunday's medal race, scheduled for 11.37 Irish time on Sunday.
'We made the A-final in Lucerne, the first A-final for the duo here, so very happy with the result and looking forward to tomorrow,' Pazzaia told
The result was something of a triumph for Ireland coach Dominic Casey, who has always disputed the received wisdom that lightweights have a big disadvantage when they step up to openweight events.
Casey, who now heads up Irish international rowing, has repurposed Fiona Murtagh from a sweep rower (holding a single oar) to a single sculler (two oars). It has been a raging success. She followed up her silver medal at the European Championships with a win in her heat in Lucerne and today dominated her semi-final to set up a chance of a rematch against the gold medallist from Plovdiv, Lauren Henry of Britain.
The Ireland double of Mags Cremen and Zoe Hyde missed out on qualifying for their A Final, taking fourth in a semi-final won by China. Alison Bergin placed 22nd in the women's single through her fourth place in the D Final.
