Olympic selection 'class' for Doyle after long wait

Philip Doyle will compete in his second Olympics for Ireland

Northern Ireland's Philip Doyle says selection for a second Olympics is "class" after a "stressful enough year" awaiting confirmation from Team Ireland.

Doyle and partner Daire Lynch qualified the Irish men's double sculls boat at the world championships last year and their place at the Games was confirmed on Thursday.

The 31-year-old told BBC Sport NI the announcement feels "a bit surreal" as it is so close to the start of the Olympics, which begin on 26 July.

"It's a long time coming. You qualify last year and only get named now. So it's a stressful enough year trying to push to keep yourself ahead in selection position.

"Luckily everything has gone well for us this year, so it has been great."

Ireland head to Paris with seven boats, including reigning Olympic men's lightweight double sculls champions Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy.

Northern Ireland's Ross Corrigan and Nathan Timoney will also race in the men's pair in their Olympic debuts.

Margaret Cremen and Aoife Casey will compete in the women's lightweight double sculls while Zoe Hyde and Alison Bergin will race in the women's double sculls and Aifric Keogh and Fiona Murtagh are named for the women's pair.

Emily Hegarty, Natalie Long, Eimear Lambe, Imogen Magner will race in the women's four while Holly Davis will travel as a reserve.

'It was nice to put a marker down'

After a morning of training in Cork, Doyle said being at the team announcement meant he could "allow a little bit of excitement to come in".

"You get the kit and you see everyone getting theirs as well.

"You get that lovely moment of team bonding and then tomorrow morning it is back to work."

Doyle and Lynch laid down a pre-Olympic marker by winning gold in the men's double sculls in the third World Cup regatta in Poznan on Sunday, defeating the French Olympic champions in the process.

The win came in their first event together since April after they missed the Lecerne World Cup in May through injury.

"We have a pretty realistic outlook on last weekend. It's a World Cup and we had the Olympic champions and some phenomenal rowers there so it was amazing to come away with Ireland's first-ever gold medal," Doyle added.

"But you look back and see some really big names missing who will be there at the Games.

"It was nice for us to put the marker down that we won and say to them that we are looking good, so you will have a tough time with us in the summer."

Ireland team

Men’s Lightweight Double Scull: Paul O’Donovan, Fintan McCarthy

Women’s Lightweight Double Scull: Margaret Cremen, Aoife Casey

Men’s Double Scull: Philip Doyle, Daire Lynch

Women’s Double Scull: Zoe Hyde, Alison Bergin

Men’s Pair: Ross Corrigan, Nathan Timoney

Women’s Pair: Aifric Keogh, Fiona Murtagh

Women’s Four: Emily Hegarty, Natalie Long, Eimear Lambe, Imogen Magner

Reserve: Holly Davis