Some of the big guns may have been absent, but Garda's win in the senior one eights at the Limerick rowing regatta at O'Brien's Bridge on Saturday was another sign that they are pushing towards the very top level.

Built around the crew which won the intermediate title last year at the national championships, Garda took the top honours at the Heinken-sponsored regatta, beating UCD by a canvas, with Queen's third.

In the men's senior single sculls, defending champion Albert Maher of Neptune beat Donal Hanrahan of Commercial into second place, with Trinity's James Lupton third.