KATIE TAYLOR HAS moved one step closer to adding European Games gold to her glittering collection with the narrowest of wins over home favourite Yana Alekseevna in their lightweight semi-final this morning.
The Bray boxer will fight for Ireland’s first gold medal of the games on Saturday afternoon at 2pm.
In a fierce contest, both boxers exchanged blow-for-blow throughout and the judges had them locked on 38 points apiece after four tight rounds.
However, Taylor won on countback on a split decision to silence the partisan crowd inside the Crystal Hall in the Azeri capital.
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Taylor started with purpose as she landed an early blow but Alekseevna bounced back and eventually took a first round which saw both camps measure each other up.
The 28-year-old Olympic champion was aggressive in her approach thereafter and landed a couple of clean combinations to take the second round.
The judges then awarded the third to Alekseevna but a big left, right combo at the start of the final round got Taylor back on track as she dominated to win by the tightest of decisions.
Sean McComb was forced to settle for bronze as he was defeated in his lightweight semi-final while Michael O’Reilly received a walkover to advance to the middleweight final.
Earlier this morning, brother and sister pair Chloe and Sam Magee added another medal to Team Ireland’s tally after winning their mixed doubles quarter-final clash.
Chloe and Sam Magee celebrate their quarter-final win. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
The Donegal siblings beat their Polish opponents 21-18, 21-12 in Baku to advance to the semi-finals and secure themselves at least a bronze medal.
They’ll face the French pair of Gaetan Mittelheisser and Audrey Fontaine on Saturday morning.
Unfortunately Scott Evans was unable to continue his excellent campaign as he narrowly missed out on a medal with a quarter-final defeat to Emil Holst.
Elsewhere at the Games, none of Ireland’s swimmers qualified for the final day of competition in the Azeri capital despite a number of them posting personal bests.
Katie Taylor is through to the European Games final as Ireland's first gold edges closer
KATIE TAYLOR HAS moved one step closer to adding European Games gold to her glittering collection with the narrowest of wins over home favourite Yana Alekseevna in their lightweight semi-final this morning.
The Bray boxer will fight for Ireland’s first gold medal of the games on Saturday afternoon at 2pm.
In a fierce contest, both boxers exchanged blow-for-blow throughout and the judges had them locked on 38 points apiece after four tight rounds.
However, Taylor won on countback on a split decision to silence the partisan crowd inside the Crystal Hall in the Azeri capital.
Taylor started with purpose as she landed an early blow but Alekseevna bounced back and eventually took a first round which saw both camps measure each other up.
The 28-year-old Olympic champion was aggressive in her approach thereafter and landed a couple of clean combinations to take the second round.
The judges then awarded the third to Alekseevna but a big left, right combo at the start of the final round got Taylor back on track as she dominated to win by the tightest of decisions.
Sean McComb was forced to settle for bronze as he was defeated in his lightweight semi-final while Michael O’Reilly received a walkover to advance to the middleweight final.
Earlier this morning, brother and sister pair Chloe and Sam Magee added another medal to Team Ireland’s tally after winning their mixed doubles quarter-final clash.
The Donegal siblings beat their Polish opponents 21-18, 21-12 in Baku to advance to the semi-finals and secure themselves at least a bronze medal.
They’ll face the French pair of Gaetan Mittelheisser and Audrey Fontaine on Saturday morning.
It follows Sam Magee’s success in the men’s doubles with his brother, Joshua, yesterday as they progressed to the last four as well.
Unfortunately Scott Evans was unable to continue his excellent campaign as he narrowly missed out on a medal with a quarter-final defeat to Emil Holst.
Elsewhere at the Games, none of Ireland’s swimmers qualified for the final day of competition in the Azeri capital despite a number of them posting personal bests.
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