Medal treble lifts nation

Irish Olympic medals are something like London buses — you wait for ages for one to come along and then three arrive together.

Yesterday, Katie Taylor guaranteed herself at least silver with a comfortable 17-9 semi-final victory over Tajikistan’s Mavzuna Chorieva in the ExCel Centre to set up an Olympic final with Russia’s Sofya Ochigava — whom she beat in the World Championship decider earlier this year.

Meanwhile, at Greenwich Park, Cian O’Connor, a late call-up to the team, secured a bronze medal following a thrilling afternoon of show jumping.