Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy have to settle for silver on competitive return in Lucerne

Ian O'RiordanIan O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics - The Irish Times - 09/07
Irish crew suffer first defeat in four years as French duo put down a marketer ahead of Paris Olympics

The last time Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy lost a major regatta in the lightweight double sculls the world hadn’t yet heard of Covid-19. That was at the World Cup in Lucerne, in 2019, after which they were unbeatable on the water across Olympic, World and European level.

Back in Lucerne this weekend for the final World Cup regatta of the season, their first time racing together in 2023 after O’Donovan completed his medical studies, they were beaten again, this time settling for silver by the narrowest of margins, edged out in a frantic sprint for the ...
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