Darren O’Neill tackles daunting Rio route

Darren O’Neill believes he can upset the odds and secure his place in Rio by winning gold at the final ‘amateur’ Olympic qualification tournament, which gets under way tonight in Baku.

Kilkenny heavyweight O’Neill is part of a four-man Irish team looking to book their Olympic spots, with light-welterweight Dean Walsh, middleweight Michael O’Reilly, and super-heavyweight Dean Gardiner making up the team.

Walsh and O’Reilly must secure top-five places in Azerbaijan if they are to qualify for Rio, but O’Neill and Gardiner face the more daunting task of claiming gold in their respective weight divisions if they are to reach the Olympics.