Heartbroken Joe Ward was thrown an Olympic lifeline last night after his controversial elimination from the qualifying tournament in Trabzon, Turkey.

Joe Ward will not be competing at the London Olympics after the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) lost its appeal against his controversial defeat at this week's Olympic qualifying tournament in Turkey.

European light heavyweight champion Joe Ward and Olympic bronze medallist Paddy Barnes will both be seeded in tomorrow’s draw for the European Olympic qualifying tournament in Trabzon, Turkey, but it’s likely the other five members of the Irish team will go into the open draw.

Lost nowadays in all the enduring hype about Ronnie Delany’s 1500m gold medal at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne is the fact Ireland came back from Australia with four other medals; Fred Tiedt (silver), Johnny Caldwell, Fred Gilroy and Anthony Byrne (all bronze) — all in boxing.

Sean Tobin claimed his fourth Aviva Munster Schools’ cross-country title in a row yesterday with a power-packed display at the CIT Sports Complex in Bishopstown.