Team Ireland enjoyed an encouraging start to their 2026 World Rowing Cup I campaign in Seville, with plenty of semi-final spots secured.
Double Olympic champion Fintan McCarthy won his opening heat in the Singe Sculls in a time of 7:08.46, the fourth fastest time overall. The Cork man beat Norway's Jonas Slettemark Juel to the line, having been keeping pace from third spot throughout the race.
He was then involved in a quarter-final later in the day, where a second-placed finish to Slovakia saw him secure one of the three automatic qualification spots for the semis that were on offer.
Fiona Murtagh was first up on Friday and she won her Single Sculls heat with a composed performance, particularly in the second half of the race. She finished ahead of the German team in a time of 7:37.33.
The Women's Double Sculls team of Alison Bergin and Sophia Young continued the good run as they took victory in a time of 7:06.30, crossing the line ahead of the Netherlands and Canada.
In the second heat, Zoe Hyde and Mags Cremen came home second in a time of 7:01.20, a result also good enough to send them into the semis.
Isobel Clements made the A final in the Lightweight Single Sculls after managing second spot in a time of 8:09.49.
The Women's Four are also into their A final as the team of Natalie Long, Claire Feerick, Emma Fagan and Imogen Magner came home second in their heat in a time of 6:51.60.
The Men's Pair of Adam Murphy and Fionnán McQuillan-Tolan are into their semi-final. They were the sixth fastest crew overall, with a fourth-placed finish in their heat thanks to a time of 6:58.67.
The Men's Quad Sculls team are heading for the Final C after coming home fourth in their heat. The crew of Konan Pazzaia, Andrew Sheehan, Ryan Spelman and Martin O'Grady finished in a time of 5:58.67.
Team Ireland schedule for Saturday:
9:25am - Men's Quad Sculls Final C (Konan Pazzaia, Andrew Sheehan, Ryan Spelman and Martin O'Grady)
10:05am - Women's Single Sculls A Final (Fiona Murtagh)
10:15am - Men's Single Sculls semi-final (Fintan McCarthy)
10:37am - Men's Pair semi-final (Adam Murphy and Fionnán McQuillan-Tolan)
10:49am - Women's Double Sculls semi-final (Alison Bergin and Sophia Young)
10:54am - Women's Double Sculls semi-final (Zoe Hyde and Mags Cremin)
1:45pm - Lightweight Single Sculls (Isobel Clements)
