European Games: Irish trio Moorhouse, O'Rourke and Walsh advance to boxing quarter-finals

Daina Moorhouse, Aoife O'Rourke and Michaela Walsh are all one win away from a medal and closing in on places at the Paris 2024 Olympics after another highly successful day for Ireland's boxers at the European Games.

Featherweight Walsh was a unanimous decision winner over Aysen Taskin of Turkey and will become a double Olympian if she reaches the semi-finals.

Flyweight Moorhouse won a split decision against Tetiana Kob of the Ukraine and is also one win away from Paris.

Two-time European champion O'Rourke was a split-decision winner against Cindy Winner Djankeu Ngamba (EOC refugee team) but must reach the final to secure her Olympic place, with only two spots on offer at 75kg.

Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington, world champion Amy Broadhurst, Jennifer Lehane, Kelyn Cassidy and Jack Marley all reached the last eight on Sunday while Dean Clancy did the same on Saturday.

Ireland's badminton stars also started their championships on Tuesday.

Mixed doubles pairing Joshua Magee and Moya Ryan got off to a winning start, defeating Slovakia's Dratva and Vargova 2-0 but were beaten 2-0 by Great Britain in their second group game.

Donegal's Rachael Darragh beat Serbia's Marija Sudimac 13-21, 21-19, 23-21 in the group stages of the women's singles.

Modern pentathlete Sive Brassil came up just short in her quest to make the final, finishing her semi-final in 16th place.

Brassil started the concluding laser run in 14th position and managed to get up to 12th but some shooting misses kept her out of the nine athletes who advanced to the final.

Derry triathlete Erin McConnell put in a strong performance to place 27th in the women's individual triathlon this morning in very challenging conditions.

McConnell, who is known for her strong