Sam Lynch and Gearóid Towey claimed bronze for Ireland in the men's lightweight double sculls at the World Rowing Championships in Milan.
The Irish pair crossed the line in six minutes, 35.9 seconds, just five seconds behind winners Italy, with Poland second.
The Italian pair, Elia Luini and Leonardo Pettinari, set the pace from the outset, and from there, never relinquished their lead. By the 400metre mark Luini and Pettinari maintained a high 39 strokes per minute and had opened up a significant gap by the halfway stage.
Meanwhile, the Olympic champions Poland were in a battle of their own with Lynch and Towey for the silver. Tomasz Kucharski and Robert Sycz were in second by the 1000metre mark but the Irish boat was threatening all the time.
However, the Poles upped their pace and decided go after the Italians in the latter stages of the race while Lynch and Towey were resigned to the bronze.
As for the Italian's world record bid, that was soon washed-up as gutsy headwinds prevailed towards the end of the race.
