Doyle to partner McCarthy at World Championships
Doyle claimed bronze at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris
- Published
Philip Doyle has been selected to partner two-time Olympic champion Fintan McCarthy in the men's double scull at next month's World Rowing Championships in China in place of Paul O'Donovan.
Lisburn's Doyle, 32, claimed bronze in the event at the Paris Olympics and replaces O'Donovan, who is unavailable because of work commitments.
Skibbereen pair McCarthy and O'Donovan claimed gold at the Tokyo and Paris Games, while also winning three world titles together in the lightweight double scull with O'Donovan a seven-time world champion overall.
Doyle steps into the breach for the championships in Shanghai from 21-28 September in what is deemed a transitional year with the team featuring a mixture of youth and experience at the beginning of a new Olympic cycle.
"This year presents a valuable opportunity to look ahead to Los Angeles 2028, to develop talent, and to solidify the high-performance culture within our team," said head coach Dominic Casey.
"We're investing in both our people and our infrastructure, with ongoing enhancements at the National Rowing Centre to ensure our athletes have the best possible environment for growth. We're proud of the depth and versatility of this team and confident they will represent Ireland with excellence on the world stage."
Double Olympian Fiona Murtagh will seek to build upon her silver medal at the European Championships when she competes in the single scull, while the women's four includes Natalie Long and Imogen Magner with Emma Waters and Aisling Hayes the new faces.
Siobhan McCrohan, a gold medal winner from 2023, competes in the lightweight single, while Zoe Hyde and Margaret Cremen partner in the women's doubles and in the women's pair, Emily Hegarty and double Olympian Aoife Casey are matched.
Fermanagh's Nathan Timoney and Ross Corrigan resume their partnership, while Adam Murphy, Andrew Sheehan, Brian Colsh and Ronan Byrne form the quadruple scull. Jake McCarthy competes in the lightweight single scull.
"We're in a pivotal moment as a high-performance organisation," added Rowing Ireland CEO Michelle Carpenter.
"Supporting athletes through post-Olympic transition, investing in new talent, and expanding our facilities are all key priorities. This team embodies the resilience, ambition, and potential of Irish rowing's future."
Ireland team for World Rowing Championships
Lightweight Women's Single Scull (LW1X): Siobhan McCrohan
Women's Single Scull (W1X): Fiona Murtagh
Women's Double Scull (W2X): Margaret Cremen and Zoe Hyde
Women's Pair (W2): Aoife Casey and Emily Hegarty
Women's Four (W4): Aisling Hayes, Imogen Magner, Emma Waters and Natalie Long
Lightweight Men's Single Scull (LM1X): Jake McCarthy
Men's Single Scull (M1X): Konan Pazzaia
Men's Double Scull (M2X): Fintan McCarthy and Philip Doyle
Men's Pair (M2): Ross Corrigan and Nathan Timoney
Men's Quad Scull (M4x): Andrew Sheehan, Adam Murphy, Brian Colsh & Ronan Byrne
PR2 Mixed Double Scull (PR2 Mix 2x): Sadhbh Ni Laoghaire and Tiarnan O'Donnell