Lisa Dilleen, one of Ireland best young rowers took a big step forward for Irish rowing when she stroked the Ireland four into an A final.
There were two places available in yesterday’s repechage, Poland put up the battle, but Ireland won it, and guaranteed themselves a better lane draw tomorrow.
Ireland team manager Morten Espersen said “They were fantastic: they just sat on them (Poland) from the start. It’s just perfect”.
Esperson has overseen many outstanding rowers in Denmark was full of admiration for Dilleen and he said that Aifric Keogh, Ailish Sheehan and Emily Tormey were “gelling better and better with her”.
The Australians, who beat Ireland in the heat on Wednesday, will be favourites tomorrow. Russia, New Zealand and the Netherlands, will be the other main opposition.
Ireland had two other good results yesterday, with lightweight sculler Denise Walsh and the men’s pair both qualifying directly from their heats.
Walsh’s finish, when she was still moving fast with 250 metres to go, impressed Espersen. “I think there is more to come,” he said.
The men’s pair of Fionnán McQuillan-Tolan and Seán O’Connor took the second place which guaranteed them direct qualification for the semi-finals with five seconds to spare over main rivals Russia. In their heat of the men’s lightweight double sculls, Shane O’Driscoll and Gary O’Donovan needed to finish in the top two, but after a disappointing first quarter finished third and will go to a repechage.
Ireland’s four of Richie Bennett, Matthew Wray, Jonathan Mitchell and Rob O’Callaghan will compete in the B final.
