It was another historic and memorable day for Irish rowing on Friday, as Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy successfully defended their Olympic crown in the lightweight men's double sculls in Paris.
The Skibbereen duo won gold in Tokyo three years ago, though they came into these Olympics with more of a threat from the Swiss and Italian teams behind.
However, once things got underway in Paris, it was clear who the top dogs were.
O'Donovan and McCarthy won every round of the competition and were utterly ruthless in winning Friday's final by a decisive margin for back-to-back gold medals.
The triumph on Friday means that O'Donovan is now the first Irish Olympian to win medals in three separate games, and the pair follow only Pat O'Callaghan in 1928 and 1932 in winning gold medals at two separate games.
With a bronze medal for Daire Lynch and Philip Doyle earlier this week making it five medals in three Olympic Games for the Irish rowing team, it is extraordinary to see how Ireland have established themselves as a powerhouse of the sport.
Speaking on RTÉ after O'Donovan and McCarthy took gold, former Irish competitor Tim Harnedy credited coach Dominic Casey with the rapid rise of Irish rowing in recent years.
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Tim Harnedy hails Dominic Casey's immense work with Irish rowers
Paris 2024: Irish gold medal duo Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy see the tricolour raised as Amhrán na bhFiann rings out in Paris.#RTESport #Paris2024
📺 Watch https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7
📱Updates https://t.co/18WgncFAEe pic.twitter.com/7327XB7uET— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 2, 2024
The work of Dominic Casey has been recognised down through the years, with the Irishman winning World Rowing Coach of the Year and the RTÉ Sport Manager of the Year awards in previous years.
Casey had his hands full on Friday morning, with Aoife Casey and Margaret Cremen going in the women's lightweight double sculls final mere moments after O'Donovan and McCarthy struck gold.
Tim Harnedy said on RTÉ Sport that Casey would have been flat out at work with the women's pair even while the Cork pair lapped up the applause of the crowd.
I'd say, almost definitely, he was bringing the girls in from the water. Once he's done with that he'd be loading the trailer or selling raffle tickets or something or planning for next year.
He stays in the background, out of the limelight, very much.
Harnedy paid tribute to Casey's immense work ethic, and said that the key factor in Ireland's success over the past few years had been the presence of coach Casey.
I honestly think the one major factor in it is Dominic.
He's completely insane. I joined rowing in 1996, you're there on the second day and Dominic is there asking 'did you know...?' He has everything organised and controlled.
Outside of the Dominic world is a strange place to be because he's so organised and passionate, just constantly, constantly [asking] 'How can we get better results?'
He'll be there now figuring out what's happening next year, what's happening in the future, who's going well here, who can go well there. It's constant, 24/7 drive, always there, always in the club.
Following Irish rowing over the past decade has truly been a treat for sports fans on this island, thanks in no small part to the fantastic work of Dominic Casey.
Long may it continue.
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