O'Donovan and McCarthy ease into Worlds semi-finals

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.

Their semi-final takes place on Thursday morning.

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