Baku Games - Friday update

Brendan Irvine has had little difficulty in qualifying for the men’s light-flyweight quarter-finals at the European Games in Baku.

Brendan Irvine, left, exchanges punches with Tinko Banabakov, Bulgaria, during their Men's Boxing Light Fly 49kg Round of 16 bout. Picture: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE

The St Paul’s Belfast fighter was given a unanimous points decision by the three scoring judges at the Crystal Hall in a 30-26 30-27 29-28 triumph over Bulgarian Tinko Banabakov, who was only awarded one round by one judge.

Irvine next fights hot home prospect and former European Champion Salman Alizada of Azerbaijan in Monday’s quarters. Alizada was a gold medallist at the European Amateur Championships in 2011, and followed up with a bronze two years ago.

Ceire Smith’s mid-afternoon debut in Baku in the women’s flyweight competition comes against Norwegian Camilla Johansen.

In archery, Sinead Cuthbert was dismissed 6-0 by Natalia Erdynieva of Russia in the first round of the women’s individual.

Meanwhile, Natasha McManus was seven places away from the final of the 1m springboard diving, in coming 19th in qualification.