Rowing: The Irish men's lightweight four are through to Sunday's final of the World Rowing Championships in Eton.
Gearoid Towey, Eugene Coakley, Richard Archibald and Paul Griffin finished third in today's semi-final.
Defending champions France won the race in a time of 6.10.32. Great Britain finished just under half a second down in second with the Irish quartet another half a second down in third.
China won the second semi-final again by the tightest of margins from Canada with the Australian four taking the final qualifying spot.
"It was a good solid race, it's always going to be cut throat in a world championship semi-final," says Archibald.
"We made ground just after halfway; that's the way we race. We're very happy with how we finished the race; long and strong.
"We didn't lose anything in the last 200 metres so it was a good race in that regard."
The Irish four line up in the final in lane one on Sunday (2.15pm) alongside Great Britain, France, China, Canada, and Australia.
Stroke man Paul Griffin said: "Sunday is a new day. It's a new race. Everything else is history then. Sunday has always been our aim; to peak then, when it matters."
The women's lightweight double of Sinéad Jennings and Niamh NiCheilleachair missed out on a final place after finishing fifth in a hotly contested semi-final. They now contest the B final on Sunday.
Ireland's lightweight men's double of Richard Coakley and Tim Harnedy finished 21st overall after taking third in a closely contested D final.