The event was cancelled after this preview was completed
After many cancelled attempts, the on-the-water trialling process for the 2025 Rowing Ireland High Performance team is underway. The February trials are an open trial on the Saturday, focussing on the pairs and singles, with crews invited to take part on Sunday in fours and doubles, should they impress the High Performance coaching team. The U23 men’s pair is a competitive event, with nine crews taking to the course.
University of Galway Boat Club
This University of Galway pair already have some international pedigree in the boat, albeit in sculling. Sean Morris, formerly of Tralee Rowing Club, and Zach Meegan, a man from Athlone Boat Club, both represented Ireland at the Junior World Rowing Championships in 2024 in the quadruple scull and 2023 in the double scull, respectively. The coaching team at the University of Galway have undoubtedly transitioned these men well to sweep rowing, given the university’s long history in competing at the highest level in sweep boats. Their results at the Irish Indoor Rowing Championships were not overly impressive for heavyweight U23 athletes, both scoring 6:27.7 exactly, but this symmetry and their undoubted technical ability in small boats should overcome that apparent lack of raw power for this on-the-water trial.
University College Cork A
This pair is already an established crew, having won the Intermediate pair at the 2024 Irish Rowing Championships. The stroke man, Rory Buckley, also stroked the coxless four at last year’s U23 World Rowing Championships, showing that he already possesses the ability to compete on the international stage. He is partnered with Ethan O’Neill, who would be hoping to go a step further than last year and make the U23 team. This pair’s results at the Irish Indoor Rowing Championships also did not stand out as impressive, but they can rely on the fact that they have probably spent more time together as a unit than any of the other boats that will take to the water this weekend.
University of Limerick A
Like the University of Cork pair, this University of Limerick pair were Intermediate champions at the 2024 Irish Rowing Championships, however, in the coxed four this time. This crew also showed speed in the pair last weekend, winning St. Michael’s Head of the River. They should take to the water next weekend knowing that they have proven speed in this formation. The stroke-man of this crew,Seán O’Neill, scored a 6:18.1 at the Irish Indoor Rowing Championships, placing fifth. The bow-man Adam Grace was ten seconds behind with a score of 6:28.8. They will be an impressive crew this weekend should they be able to harness the power the stroke-man can clearly produce.
Prediction
It is hard to ignore the obvious pedigree on show in the University of Galway crew, with both rowers having already represented Ireland on the world stage. I expect this pair to top the rankings this weekend. Behind them, I expect the University of Limerick crew to come second, followed by University College Cork. These crews both spend a lot of time together as units, but I’m expecting the racing experience the University of Limerick crew obtained last weekend to be the difference at this water-trial.
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