An inspired performance by Sligo’s Chris O’Donnell helped Ireland maintain their place in the First League of the European Team Championships in Sandnes, Norway over the weekend.

A key test, passed with flying colours. For a golden generation of young athletes, Saturday’s National Junior and U-23 Championships proved a low-key but high-intensity examination of their fitness as they prepare to take their talents to a bigger stage.

With one silver and four bronze already in the bag, potentially two gold medals could be claimed today in the ring for Ireland at the European Games in Minsk.

Michaela Walsh has been beaten in her featherweight boxing final at the European Games in Minsk, while badminton’s Magee family scored bronze.

Ireland’s Elite boxers are fighting like wolves at the European Games in Minsk, according to Irish captain and World Elite lightweight champion Kellie Harrington.

Michaela Walsh is through to the women's featherweight final at the European Games in Minsk, guaranteeing at least a silver medal.

Kurt Walker has secured Ireland's fifth medal at the European Games in Minsk this afternoon.

Laois middleweight Michael Nevin and Bray light-flyweight Regan Buckley guaranteed Ireland’s first medals of the second European Games on 4-1 split decisions in Minsk yesterday.

Germany head coach Eddie Bolger won’t have any divided loyalties as he looks to put one over his native Ireland at the European Games boxing tournament in Minsk.

Ireland enjoyed seeing three boxing medal hopes progress on Day 4 of the European Games in Minsk – but Dean Gardiner and Kieran Molloy have bowed out at the hands of experienced Eastern European hard men.

Walsh made a winning start in a bid for gold at the European Games in Minsk.

Boxing, cycling, judo and shooting are occupying Irish thoughts on day two of the European Games in Minsk.

Archery supplies Ireland’s first interest at the European Games in Minsk, with just one Irish competitor in action on the opening day.

Reigning welterweight champion Kieran Molloy takes on precocious challenger Patrick Donovan in what looks a certain show-stealer at this year’s National Elite Finals.

Phil Healy and Ciara Mageean starred internationally with good early season form while there was a host of championship best performances at the Irish Life Health U20 & U23 Championships in Athlone over the weekend.

Kurt Walker stunned England’s European Elite champion, Peter McGrail, to claim the European Union Elite 56kg title in Valladolid, Spain, last night.

Kurt Walker will fight for a gold medal at the Men's EU Championships in Spain.

Medal hopes Thomas Barr and Ciara Mageean gave themselves the perfect send-off for next week’s European Championships in Berlin with foot-perfect performances at the Irish Life Health National Championships in Santry yesterday.

Michaela Walsh and Kellie Harrington’s bid to become the only Irish female fighters beside Katie Taylor to reach a European Elite final ended on split decision reversals in Sofia, Bulgaria yesterday.

Ireland will leave the European Elite Women's Boxing Championship with a pair of bronze medals.

Michaela Walsh and Kellie Harrington chase history in today’s European Elite Women’s semi-finals in Sofia.

She's now assured of at least a bronze medal.

Michaela Walsh guaranteed Ireland at least bronze at the European Elite Women’s Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, yesterday.

Katie Taylor, the IBF and WBA lightweight champion, is “ready to fight” on July 28 despite the shooting of father Peter in her hometown of Bray this week.

An early deluge didn’t prevent some outstanding performances at the Irish Life Health All Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships in Tullamore on Saturday.

Tullamore will witness a rare family feat on Saturday.

Michaela Walsh once again ensured the field events took centre stage at the GloHealth National Junior and U23 Championships in Tullamore on Saturday, the Swinford thrower scoring a double in the junior women’s shot put and hammer.

Pessimism may be a tempting and often appropriate outlook when it comes to Irish athletics these days, but in Tullamore on Saturday, even the most cynical of souls couldn’t but be swayed: the future remains bright.

Katie Taylor’s brother Lee and Irish interim head coach Zaur Antia will be working her corner at the Mallow GAA Complex in Cork tonight.

Former European Elite and AIBA World Youth champion Ray Moylette believes he has a point to prove against Wexford’s Dean Walsh at the National Elite Championships at the National Stadium, Dublin.

Katie Taylor - minus her dad and coach in her corner for the first time this decade - claimed her first Irish title in the ring at Dublin’s National Stadium last night.

Katie Taylor boxes in her first ever Irish senior final tonight at the National Stadium, but the Tipp woman facing her is undaunted getting in the ring with one of Ireland’s greatest sports stars.

Cold and damp conditions ultimately put pay to Kevin Mulcaire’s record-breaking ambitions but nothing could stop Ciara Neville lighting up the track at the GloHealth All Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships in Tullamore on Saturday.

Olympic champion Katie Taylor is convinced her best is yet to come as she prepares to lead Ireland into the inaugural European Games in Baku next month.

Olympic champion Katie Taylor is convinced her best is yet to come as she prepares to lead Ireland into the inaugural European Games in Baku next month.

There was double joy for Robert Heffernan (Togher AC) at the 50km race walk in Dudince, Slovakia on Saturday where he finished fourth in 3:48:44 to qualify for the World Championships in Beijing this summer and a record fifth Olympic Games.

Ireland’s gold medal magnet Katie Taylor arrived home to a rapturous reception yesterday after winning her fifth World Elite lightweight title in Jeju, South Korea — and she is already targeting further success.

Katie Taylor has vowed to make more history at the Rio Olympics after being confirmed as an all-time great at the AIBA World Women’s Elite Championships in Jeju, South Korea yesterday.

Katie Taylor has beaten Finland’s Mira Potkonen in the last 16 stage of the World Boxing Championships in Korea.

Olympic champion Katie Taylor and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Michaela Walsh posted landslide last-32 victories at the AIBA World Women’s Elite Championships in Jeju, South Korea yesterday.

Olympic champion Katie Taylor opens her title defence at the AIBA World Women’s Elite Championships in Jeju, South Korea against Dominica’s Valerian Spicer today.

Italia Thunder have drafted Ireland’s London 2012 bronze medallists Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan into their squad for the 2015 World Series of Boxing (WSB) season.