Barnes and O'Neill progress to finals

Paddy Barnes and Darren O'Neill booked their tickets into their respective finals at the European Senior Championships in Moscow today.

Barnes continues to enhance his reputation in the light flyweight division when he beat former silver medallist, José Linares of Spain, with a convincing 6-3 victory.

O'Neill has plotted a course through the notoriously difficult middleweight division after beating Bulgaria's Mladen Manev by six points to nil.

There was disappointment for team captain Kenny Egan, who raced into an early five-point lead but ultimately lost out 11-9 to the same opponent that knocked him out of the World Championships.

Eric Donovan and Tyrone McCullagh will also have to settle for bronze medals after losing their quarter-finals.

It was a remarkable performance from McCullagh, who pushed his more-fancied English opponent all the way, despite suffering a suspected broken hand in the opening round of their fight.