#Rowing: Ireland's lightweight double of Aoife Casey and Denise Walsh took fifth in their C Final, 17th overall at the World Rowing Championships in Linz-Ottensheim this morning. China were strong winners. Ireland came from sixth to fifth in the second half of the race. They had the fastest final 500 metres but were held out of fourth by Germany - by .68 of a second.

World Rowing Championshiops, Linz-Ottensheim, Day Seven (Irish interest)

Women

Lightweight Double Sculls - C Final (Places 13 to 18) 1 China 7:00.82; 5 Ireland (A Casey, D Walsh) 7:10.52.

#Rowing: Ireland qualified a second boat for the Olympic Games today. The Ireland double of Philip Doyle and Ronan Byrne controlled their semi-final to win from Romania and Britain, who also qualified for the A Final.

The middle stages were superb. Ireland moved away from early leaders New Zealand and led Britain coming through the 1500 metres. From there came the charges of the other boats, but Doyle and Byrne repelled them all.

World Rowing Championships, Linz-Ottensheim, Day Six (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Quadruple - B Final: 1 United States 6:03.94, 2 Ireland (H Sutton, M Taylor, R Ballantine, J McCarthy) 6:06.62.

Double - A/B Semi-Final Two: 1 Ireland (P Doyle, R Byrne) 6:13.88, 2 Romania 6:14.86, 3 Britain 6:15.84.

Lightweight Single - B Final (places 7 to 12): 1 Austria (R Kepplinger) 7:00.16; 4 Ireland (G O'Donovan) 7:02.18.

Women

Lightweight Single - B Final (places 7 to 12): 1 Australia (Alice Arch) 7:52.59; 5 Ireland (L Heaphy) 7:55.40.

#Rowing: Ireland's Gary O'Donovan took fourth in his B Final of the lightweight single sculls at the World Rowing Championships in Linz-Ottensheim.

Rainer Kepplinger of Austria won, with O'Donovan part of group close behind. The finish puts O'Donovan 10th overall here.

Alice Arch of Australia won the women's lightweight single, with Ireland's Lydia Heaphy fifth. Heaphy had led through the first quarter.

The Ireland lightweight quadruple took second to the United States in their B Final.

World Rowing Championships, Linz-Ottensheim, Day Six (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Quadruple - B Final: 1 United States 6:03.94, 2 Ireland (H Sutton, M Taylor, R Ballantine, J McCarthy) 6:06.62.

Lightweight Single - B Final (places 7 to 12): 1 Austria (R Kepplinger) 7:00.16; 4

Ireland (G O'Donovan) 7:02.18.

 Women

Lightweight Single - B Final (places 7 to 12): 1 Australia (Alice Arch) 7:52.59; 5 Ireland (L Heaphy) 7:55.40.

#Rowing: The Ireland women's four finished fourth in their A/B Semi-Final at the World Championships in Linz-Ottensheim, missing out by one place on an A Final. The must now compete in a B Final, where a top-two placing would lift their boat into an Olympic place.

The first 700 metres were discouraging, but from there the crew of Tara Hanlon, Eimear Lambe, Aifric Keogh and Emily Hegarty made real progress. They moved from sixth into fifth and were in fourth coming into the final 500 metres, overlapping the Romanian crew in third. Ireland kept the pressure on, but Romania held out for third. Australia and Denmark led home.

Gary O'Donovan will also compete in a B Final. He finished a distant sixth in his semi-final of the lightweight single sculls, slowing up and paddling home in the final quarter.

Lydia Heaphy took sixth in her semi of the lightweight single. She was very much in contention for a top-three spot through the middle stages of the race, but it got away from her by the end.

World Rowing Championships, Linz-Ottensheim, Austria - Day Five (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Double Sculls - A/B Semi-Final Two (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Ireland (F McCarthy, P O'Donovan) 6:13.46, 2 Germany 6:13.59, 3 Norway 6:14.15.

Lightweight Single Sculls A/B Semi-Final One (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 6 Ireland (G O'Donovan) 7:34.01.

Women

Four - A/B Semi-Final Two (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Australia 6:25.34, 2 Denmark 6:28.58, 3 Romania 6:30.96; 4 Ireland (T Hanlon, E Lambe, A Keogh, E Hegarty) 6:32.37.

Pair - A/B Semi-Final One (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 New Zealand 6:57.92, 2 United States 7:01.78, 3 Italy 7:01.80; 4 Ireland (A Crowley, M Dukarska) 7:03.05.

Lightweight Single Sculls A/B Semi-Final One (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 6 Ireland (L Heaphy) 7:42.23.

#Rowing: Ireland's first boat qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games is the lightweight men's double. Fintan McCarthy and Paul O'Donovan won in a thrilling semi-final here in Linz-Ottensmeim to take an A Final place at the World Championships and land a berth for the boat in Tokyo.

This was classic Paul O'Donovan. He gelled with his new partner, McCarthy, to produce a perfectly-judged finish which pushed Germany into second - by 13 hundredths of a second. Norway, like Ireland, had watched Germany and Australia do the early work, then closed on them in the final stages. The Norway crew of Are Strandli and Kris Brun, who were bronze medallists behind Ireland's silver in Rio 2016, produced the fastest finish of all to take third. Australia fell back to fifth.

 All six A Finalists and the eventual winner of the B Final qualify boats for Tokyo 2020.

The Ireland women's pair of Aileen Crowley and Monika Dukarska will have to make their way through the B Final (placing fifth or better) if they are to qualify the boat for the Olympics. They finished fourth in a hotly-contested semi-final. New Zealand won with a commanding performance; the United States forced their way into second; the battle was joined between Ireland and fast-finishing Italy, who took the crucial third place.

World Rowing Championships, Linz-Ottensheim, Austria - Day Five (Irish interest)

Men

Lightweight Double Sculls - A/B Semi-Final Two (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 Ireland (F McCarthy, P O'Donovan) 6:13.46, 2 Germany 6:13.59, 3 Norway 6:14.15.

Women

Pair - A/B Semi-Final Two (First Three to A Final; rest to B Final): 1 New Zealand 6:57.92, 2 United States 7:01.78, 3 Italy 7:01.80; 4 Ireland (A Crowley, M Dukarska) 7:03.05.

#Rowing: Gary O'Donovan came from fifth in his quarter-final with 500 metres to go to take third and a place in the World Championships semi-finals. The good finishing speed served the Skibbereen lightweight sculler well in Linz-Ottensheim. As four boats charged, Aaron Lattimer of Canada did best and won, while Sean Murphy of Australia held on to take second. O'Donovan took out Milos Stanojevic of Serbia, who had held second going into the final quarter.

World Rowing Championships, Linz-Ottensheim, Austria, Day Four (Irish interest)

Men

Double Sculls - Quarter-Final One - (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Poland 6:15.06, 2 Ireland (P Doyle, R Byrne) 6:17.78, 3 Germany 6:21.04.

Lightweight Double Sculls - Quarter-Final Three - (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Ireland (F McCarthy, P O'Donovan) 6:20.84, 2 Spain 6:22.84, 3 Poland 6:23.72.

Lightweight Single Sculls - Quarter Final Three - (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Canada (A Lattimer) 6:56.90, 2 2 Australia (S Murphy) 6:57.85, 3 Ireland (G O'Donovan) 6:59.57.

Women

Pair - Quarter-Final Two (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Australia 7:08.74, 2 Ireland (A Crowley, M Dukarska) 7:12.51, 3 Italy 7:13.11.

Lightweight Double Sculls - Quarter-Final Three - (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 4 Ireland (A Casey, D Walsh) 7:07.17.

Single Sculls - Quarter-Final Four - (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Ireland (S Puspure) 7:21.03, 2 Czech Republic (M Topinkova Knapkova) 7:36.19, 3 Ukraine (D Dymchenko) 7:41.48.

Pararowing: Women's PR Two Single Sculls, Preliminary Race: 1 Australia (K Ross) 9:24.99; 3 Ireland (K O'Brien) 9:52.13.

#Rowing: Sanita Puspure won the fastest quarter-final of the women's single sculls at the World Championships yesterday - with by far the biggest margin of victory. She had more than 15 seconds to spare over the 2012 Olympic champion Mirka Topinkova Knapkova of the Czech Republic.

Puspure became the third Ireland crew to go through to semi-finals in Olympic events in this Olympic qualification regatta.

World Rowing Championships, Linz-Ottensheim, Austria, Day Four (Irish interest)

Men

Double Sculls - Quarter-Final One - (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Poland 6:15.06, 2 Ireland (P Doyle, R Byrne) 6:17.78, 3 Germany 6:21.04.

Lightweight Double Sculls - Quarter-Final Three - (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Ireland (F McCarthy, P O'Donovan) 6:20.84, 2 Spain 6:22.84, 3 Poland 6:23.72.

Women

Pair - Quarter-Final Two (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Australia 7:08.74, 2 Ireland (A Crowley, M Dukarska) 7:12.51, 3 Italy 7:13.11.

Lightweight Double Sculls - Quarter-Final Three - (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 4 Ireland (A Casey, D Walsh) 7:07.17.

Single Sculls - Quarter-Final Four - (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Ireland (S Puspure) 7:21.03, 2 Czech Republic (M Topinkova Knapkova) 7:36.19, 3 Ukraine (D Dymchenko) 7:41.48.

Pararowing: Women's PR Two Single Sculls, Preliminary Race: 1 Australia (K Ross) 9:24.99; 3 Ireland (K O'Brien) 9:52.13.

#Rowing: Ireland qualified another boat for the semi-finals at the World Championships today as Philip Doyle and Ronan Byrne took second in their quarter-final of the double sculls. A top-three place was the aim: Germany, Poland and Ireland held these by the closing stages. Poland moved clear and Ireland left Germany behind them. Coming to the line, Ireland closed a little on Poland, but the winners held on and had 2.72 seconds to spare at the end.

World Rowing Championships, Linz-Ottensheim, Austria, Day Four (Irish interest)

Men

Double Sculls - Quarter-Final One - (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Poland 6:15.06, 2 Ireland (P Doyle, R Byrne) 6:17.78, 3 Germany 6:21.04.

Lightweight Double Sculls - Quarter-Final Three - (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Ireland (F McCarthy, P O'Donovan) 6:20.84, 2 Spain 6:22.84, 3 Poland 6:23.72.

Women

Pair - Quarter-Final Two (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Australia 7:08.74, 2 Ireland (A Crowley, M Dukarska) 7:12.51, 3 Italy 7:13.11.

Lightweight Double Sculls - Quarter-Final Three - (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 4 Ireland (A Casey, D Walsh) 7:07.17.

Pararowing: Women's PR Two Single Sculls, Preliminary Race: 1 Australia (K Ross) 9:24.99; 3 Ireland (K O'Brien) 9:52.13.

#Rowing: Monika Dukarska and Aileen Crowley kept the good buzz around Ireland performances going in Linz-Ottensheim, winning a battle with Italy to take second in the pairs quarter-final at the World Championships. The Australian pair of Jessica Morrison and Annabelle McIntyre opened an early lead and won by a big margin. Italy and Ireland moved into clear second and third spots, but it took a fight-out coming up to the line to decide it. All three crews qualified for the semi-finals, but Ireland looked steady and strong and finished out well to secure a better lane draw.

World Rowing Championships, Linz-Ottensheim, Austria, Day Four (Irish interest)

Women

Pair - Quarter-Final Two (First Three to A/B Semi-Finals; rest to C/D Semi-Finals): 1 Australia 7:08.74, 2 Ireland (A Crowley, M Dukarska) 7:12.51, 3 Italy 7:13.11.

Pararowing: Women's PR Two Single Sculls, Preliminary Race: 1 Australia (K Ross) 9:24.99; 3 Ireland (K O'Brien) 9:52.13.

#Rowing: The Ireland pair of Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll just missed out on a qualifying for the quarter-finals at the World Rowing Championships in Austria today.

 The Skibbereen men had to be in the top two in their repechage, but in a three-boat finish, Chile pipped Greece and Ireland were just .66 of a second off qualifying. They go to the E Final.

  The lightweight quadruple of Hugh Sutton, Miles Taylor, Ryan Ballantine and Jake McCarthy finished fourth in their heat and will compete in a repechage as they attempt to make the A Final. Italy were very strong and won well, staying clear of Denmark and Austria. Italy qualified for the A Final.

World Rowing Championships, Linz, Austria, Day Two (Irish interest)

Men

Pair - Repechage Two (First Two to Quarter-Finals; Third to Final E): 1 Chile 6:43.70, 2 Greece 6:43.71; 3 Ireland (M O’Donovan, S O’Driscoll) 6:44.35.

Lightweight Quadruple – Heat One (Winner to A Final; rest to Repechage): 4 Ireland (H Sutton, M Taylor, R Ballantine, J McCarthy) 6:04.84