Silver at least for Irvine at European Games

Wed, 24 Jun, 2015 - 17:55

Brendan Irvine has upgraded his light-flyweight boxing medal to at least a silver after a unanimous points victory over Ukraine’s Dmytro Zamotayev at the European Games in Baku.

Irvine had to fight back after being scored as losing the first round by two of the three judges, but an improved performance saw him earn the approval of all three judges for the next two rounds to earn a 30-27 29-28 29-28 victory.

The St Paul’s Belfast fighter has a quick return to the ring as his final takes place tomorrow night against Bator Sagaluev of Russia.

Earlier, Katie Taylor and Michael O’Reilly doubled Ireland’s medals tally to four, but Darren O’Neill was beaten in his quarter-final.

Taylor overpowered Swede Ida Lundblad on a unanimous points decision in the women’s lightweight quarter-finals 40-34 40-36 40-36, and will face a major test against top Azeri Yana Alekseeva in the semi-finals on Friday.

Alekseeva was Taylor’s opponent in last year’s World Championship final.

Portlaoise middleweight O’Reilly was awarded every round by every judge in a comprehensive victory over Aljaz Venko of Slovenia.

However, Kilkenny heavyweight Darren O’Neill was beaten by Gevorg Manukian on a split decision in his medal attempt.

Scott Evans has continued his rise through the badminton competition by completing his group with a 100% record thanks to a 21-16 21-7 win over Hungary’s Gregely Krausz.

Chloe Magee came from behind to beat Lianne Tan of Romania two games to one, and has now won two out of three.

Sam and Josh Magee in the men’s doubles beat Florian and Kopriva of the Czech Republic 21-16 21-7, but in the women’s doubles, Sara Boyle and Rachel Darragh lost in straight games 21-9 21-9 to Ekaterina Bolotova and Evgeniya Kosetskaya of Russia.

James Brown reached the semi-finals of swimming’s 200m individual medley, but finished eighth in his semi and 16th overall after having earlier progressed through from the heats.

Like Brown, Mona McSharry was a standby for the semi-finals of the 200m breaststroke, but did not progress through.

Ireland’s 3x3 women’s basketball team lost their second match of the tournament to Spain 21-11, but lifted their knockout chances by defeating Slovakia 20-12, and next play in the round of 16 tomorrow.