When the World Championships commence this Sunday in Belgrade, the duo of Murtagh and Keogh will be one of five crews representing Ireland’s women’s team. Four of these crews will be vying for Olympic qualification for their respective boats. In addition to this, Murtagh and Keogh, along with the lightweight double of Aoife Casey and Margaret Cremen, have set their sights on winning medals.
Just a few weeks ago, however, Keogh and Murtagh were focused on continuing their success in the four. Unfortunately, Hegarty suffered a long-term injury, which affected the performance of the crew. Murtagh remained optimistic, believing that they would regain their synergy.
“Rowing, like life, has its ups and downs,” stated Murtagh. “To an outsider, it may seem like nothing has changed between Tokyo and now, but they haven’t witnessed the challenges we’ve faced. It hasn’t been easy with the injuries, but we’re gradually getting back on track. While our preparation hasn’t been ideal, we try not to dwell on it too much.”
The women’s four was initially a top priority for Ireland’s high performance director, Antonio Maurogiovanni. However, during training in Italy, changes were made and Sanita Puspure, a two-time world champion and three-time Olympian, was moved into the four. Injuries and a series of events led to this decision.
During Lambe’s absence due to injury, Murtagh and Keogh were paired together and showed exceptional performance. This earned them a spot in the pair for the World Championships, but it also meant that the four was no longer the main focus. Another duo, Alison Bergin and Zoe Hyde, were also selected for the double.
With five rowers remaining, Maurogiovanni had to form a four. Puspure was tested for this boat and Tara Hanlon left the camp. It was far from an ideal situation, but the crews saw the World Championships in Belgrade as an opportunity to reap the rewards of their hard training under Maurogiovanni’s program.
Murtagh and Keogh’s main objective is to secure a place in the top 11 crews, thus qualifying the boat for the Paris Olympics. Since each race consists of six crews, finishing in the top five in the B final on Friday would be acceptable. Eleventh place would not be disappointing as it echoes the success of the O’Donovan brothers, who qualified for the Rio Olympics by finishing fifth in their B final in 2015. They went on to win a silver medal.
The women’s four face a tougher challenge, as only seven Olympic places are up for grabs. To secure qualification, Natalie Long, Puspure, Imogen Magner, and Lambe must finish as winners of the B final at the very least. Failing to achieve this goal would mean competing in the grueling Olympic qualification regatta next year.
Bergin and Hyde have a better chance, as they only need to finish in the top 11 to qualify. Casey and Cremen, on the other hand, must place in the top seven, either by qualifying for the A final or winning the B final.
When questioned about what makes Irish rowers unique, Maurogiovanni acknowledges their toughness and perseverance. The challenging weather conditions in Ireland have shaped them into resilient athletes. While the Irish team is relatively young, Murtagh and Keogh have been involved in rowing for a long time and have experienced the rigorous training at the National Rowing Centre.
“A lot of work lies ahead, but we’re excited to tackle it,” Murtagh concluded.
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