European Games report

Defeat was Brendan Irvine’s lot in Ireland’s first ever boxing final at a European Games.

The St Paul’s Belfast light-flyweight was beaten in the Crystal Hall decider by top Russian Bator Sagaluev on a split decision, having lost the opening round on all three judges’ cards.

Irvine was able to square it in the second round according to Slovak judge Rene Just, but with the other two judges giving Sagaluev a two-round lead, it would have taken something monumental from the Belfast fighter to earn the gold medal.

As it was, he was given the nod for the final round by all three scoring judges, but lost on the split decision 29-28 28-29 28-29.

He said afterwards: "I am feeling disappointed. I thought my performance was good enough to win.

"It is was my first senior competition, so it was a good one for me. And, as my coaches told me, coming second - it's brilliant."

Irvine’s silver puts Ireland on the medals table for the first time at these Games, with more to be decided in the next 48 hours in the ring.

Scott Evans is through to badminton’s men singles quarter-finals following a facile 21-6 21-13 victory over Blagovest Kisyov of Bulgaria inside 25 minutes.

Evans faces Emil Holst of Denmark next in tomorrow’s quarter-finals.

A positive day in the doubles saw Sam Magee win two matches, helping brother Josh to a 23-21 19-21 21-15 quarter-final men’s doubles victory over Belgians Matijs Dierickx and Freek Golinski.

He then aided sister Chloe in a 21-3 21-2 thumping of Maltese duo Sam Cali and Fiorella Marie Sadowski to qualify for the quarter-finals with a 100% record.

"I'm lost for words, we played scrappy Badminton to start with. We stole the first set,” Sam Magee said of his men’s doubles success.

"This time last year we started playing together and if you had seen us then, you would have fancied your chances (against us).”

Ireland’s 3x3 women’s basketball team went further than expected, bowing out in the quarter-finals on a 21-15 scoreline against Russia.

Grainne Dwyer and Orla O’Reilly both chipped in with six points each while Niamh Dwyer scored three. Ireland were level at seven-all, but then trailed for the remainder of the contest.

That followed a shock, but well-earned, 17-13 victory over the Czech Republic, with Grainne Dwyer top-scoring on eight, O’Reilly with five, in a game where the lead changed hands regularly.

Ireland’s best day in the pool saw the women’s 4x100m medley relay team finish sixth in their final, clocking four minutes, 16.81 seconds as Russia took their fourth relay gold of the swimming competition, and their tenth overall, with Arina Openysheva winning her fourth gold of the games.

Rachel Bethel and Emma Reid both qualified for semi-finals in the women’s 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly respectively, but were eliminated, before aiding Danielle Hill and Mona McSharry to a spot seven seconds outside the medals.