FIVE left standing – and all with eyes on moving up another place on the Commonwealth Games podium by forcing their way into Saturday’s showpiece finals day.
It was there that the Walsh siblings, Aidan and Michaela, Amy Broadhurst, Dylan Eagleson and Jude Gallagher led the gold rush in Birmingham four years ago, with Carly McNaul (silver) and Eireann Nugent (bronze) already on the medal table.
Unfortunately, super-heavy Willie John McCartan -superb in seeing off Ghana’s Daniel Plange – has been withdrawn from his scheduled semi-final against England’s Damar Thomas due to an elbow injury.
Gallagher would love to get back to that stage – especially considering his appearance on finals day was ultimately ceremonial, after back-to-back opponents withdrew on the morning of scheduled fights.
He had been one of the most impressive boxers in Birmingham until that point, and has been a beacon for the current Team NI crew, delivering classy, calculated performances to see off Pakistan’s Qudrat Ullah and wild Zambian Albert Ngulube en route to Friday’s semi-final.
Standing in the Newtownstewart man’s way is Tryagain Morning Ndevelo from Namibia who, if his name is anything to go by, won’t lack for effort.
With brother Aidan now part of the Team NI support staff, rather than lacing up gloves, Walsh flies the flag for the family at her fourth Commonwealth Games.
The 33-year-old has two silvers to go with the gold brought home from Birmingham and, with bronze already secured, should have too much know-how for Fiji’s Jasmine Daunakamakama on Friday afternoon.
The real danger in the draw looks to be on the other side, where Jaismine Lamboria – the reigning featherweight world champion – accounted for England’s Elise Glynn in the last eight. The Indian boxer is fancied to reach the final by beating Lesotho’s Rapelang Maselala.
Hol Trinity’s Kaci Rock gets the ball rolling in the morning session, coming up against a familiar foe in the shape of Scotland’s Caitlin Rainey. The pair sparred during a recent training camp in Belfast, and Friday will reveal who took most from those exchanges.
Rock’s club-mate, Jon McConnell, showed his resolve to bounce back from losing the first round against Indian Sumit Sumit on Monday night, the 23-year-old gritting his teeth to advance.
His reward was a walkover in Wednesday’s scheduled semi-final, when 39-year-old Bahamian Carl Hield failed to weigh-in, guaranteeing McConnell at least a bronze medal. Like Rock, he is up against a home favourite in Aberdeen’s Sonny Kerr.
The two big boys on Team NI, Garyn McAllister and Willie John McCartan, have already made a big impression in Glasgow but face significant step-ups in their semi-finals.
Sandy Row’s McAllister - who has brought a huge support across - looked the part against Ghana’s Jibril Muntari on Tuesday, but towering Welshman Connor Williams will be a different proposition.
Meanwhile, Paul Trainor may not be part of Team NI but, with both parents from Draperstown, the Australian light-heavyweight is worth keeping an eye on.
Trainor, with dad Don and mum Kate watching from the stands, has got here the hard way, winning three fights to reach the last four. And he hopes to secure a final spot – and a silver medal at least – against England’s Dimeji Shittu at 12.15pm.
SCHEDULE
Friday, July 31
11am - women’s 65kg semi-final: Kaci Rock v Caitlin Rainey (Scotland)
2.30pm - women’s 57kg semi-final: Michaela Walsh v Jasmine Daunakamakama (Fiji)
4.15pm - men’s 70kg semi-final: Jon McConnell v Sonny Kerr (Scotland)
4.30pm - men’s 90kg semi-final: Garyn McAllister v Connor Williams (Wales)
8.45pm - men’s 60kg semi-final: Jude Gallagher v Tryagain Morning Ndevelo (Namibia)
