European Games: Irish kickboxing trio through to finals

Irish trio Nathan Tait, Amy Wall and Conor McGlinchey will compete for kickboxing gold at the European Games after they all claimed semi-final victories on Saturday.

Tait became the first Irish fighter to progress to Sunday's finals after a 13-6 win over Switzerland’s Danylo Mancari in the Point Fighting 74kg class, while Wall scored a comprehensive 3-0 success against Kinga Szlachcic of Poland in the Full Contact 60kg.

It was a much closer call for McGlinchey against Italy’s Riccardo Albanese in the Point Fighting 84kg semi-finals. He was in control for the first two rounds, winning 7-4 and 6-5, but his opponent came out fighting in the third and levelled at 18-18 late on.

However, a backfist from McGlinchey in the last second gave the Kildare man a 19-18 victory.

Tallaght’s Jodie Brown lost 11-9 to Slovenia’s Tina Baloh in the Point Fighting 70kg semi-finals.

Ireland’s Triathlon team of James Edgar, Erin McConnell, Luke McCarron and Carolyn Hayes finished 14th in the Mixed Relay event around the Nova Huta Lake in Krakow.

In Canoe Slalom, Noel Hendrick and Samuel Curtis finished 28th and 31st respectively in the semi-final of the Men’s K1. Team-mate Madison Corcoran placed 23rd in the Women’s equivalent. Only the top ten from the semi-finals progressed to the finals.

Later on Saturday, boxers Kellie Harrington (60kg) and Jack Marley (92kg) will fight for gold in their respective finals, with kickboxer Nicole Bannon contesting her Light Contact (60kg) semi-final.

Olympic champion Harrington meets Natalia Shadrina of Serbia while Monkstown BC’s Jack Marley faces Italy’s Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine.

Belfast’s Alistair McCreery also competes in the qualification round of the Men’s Kayak Cross.