Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy comfortably advanced to the men's lightweight double sculls semi-finals after a controlled display on the fourth day of the World Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic.
While the other three quarter-finals were decided by photo finish, there was no such drama on display in the third race as the Olympic champions were composed throughout, edging past France at the halfway stage to be first across the line in a time 6:21.05.
It was the French who were first out of the blocks and led through 500 metres, but as per usual, the measured approach was again evident.
Having raced the first 500m in 1.34, the second 500m was covered in 1.35 and that consistent stroke rate saw them edge ahead by half a second at halfway.
By this point the race was effectively split in two; France and Ireland competing for first and the rest of the field chasing the third automatic spot for the semi-finals.
The French crew held on without ever seriously looking like reclaiming the lead, finishing 2.7 seconds behind McCarthy and O’Donovan, with Spain claiming third.
Tomorrow they go up against New Zealand, Ukraine, Switzerland, Portugal and Germany.
Brian Colsh is into the men’s single C/D Semi after a fourth-place finish in his quarter-final. Racing from lane one, Colsh finished in a time of 6:58.73, faster than his heat on Sunday, and just over five seconds behind first place Jordan Parry of New Zealand.
In the lightweight men’s double sculls, Hugh Moore finished fourth in his quarter-final. A time of 7:11.08 saw him finish outside the automatic spots and is into the C/D semi-finals.
There was bitter disappointment for Phil Doyle and Konan Pazzaia who were edged out of third place in their men's double quarter-final in a photo finish.
France were never troubled out in front, and for the majority of the race, it was the Irish pair that occupied second position.
A gap of just over two seconds to the French was held past halfway, but the real battle was taking place either side, with Norway and the United States giving chase.
In the closing 200 metres however, Doyle and Pazzaia - in just their second competitive runout in the men’s double - were overtaken, with the Americans storming through for second and the Norwegians taking third by three hundredths of a second after a photo finish.
Watch the World Rowing Championships on RTÉ Player next Friday, Saturday (also on RTÉ One) and Sunday.
