Boxing:Katie Taylor continued her inexorable march towards yet another medal at the European Women Boxing Championships this afternoon, comfortably out-pointing Azerbaijan's Ayzanat Hajiyeva to book her place in the lightweight semi-finals.
The result guarantees the Bray fighter at least a bronze medal, but she will be aiming to claim a fifth European title in succession when the competition resumes on Friday before finishing up over the weekend.
Hajiyeva, like Romina Marenda and Julia Irmen before her, was no match for Taylor in Rotterdam as the Irish women completed a punishing 17-4 victory. She advances to the last four, where Sweden's Helena Falk will be her opponent.If she does beat Falk, she will meet either Russian captain Sofya Ochigava or Denista Eliseeva of Bulgaria in Saturday’s final.
Ceire Smith missed out on a medal after the Canvan bantamweight came unstuck against Sandra Drabi, losing out 24-9 to the Polish fighter. Ireland's third representative left in the tournament Lauragh O'Neill (Paulstown), fighting in the 81kg category, lost to Tinea Naga (Hungary) 7-16