Walsh through to gold medal match but Gallagher exits

Walsh has won a medal in her four successive appearances at the Commonwealth Games [Getty Images]

Team Northern Ireland boxers Michaela Walsh, Kaci Rock and Jon McConnell won their respective semi-finals to move into Saturday's gold medal bouts, but reigning champion Jude Gallagher will leave Glasgow with just a bronze after losing.

Walsh defeated Fiji's Jasmine Daunakamakama in the women's featherweight by unanimous decision.

The 33-year-old edged a cagey first round with her experience telling in the next two rounds which she also won as she eased to victory.

The Holy Family fighter, who has earned a medal in each of her four successive Games appearances, will look to win back-to-back golds after triumphing four years ago, having won silver in Glasgow in 2014 and at the Gold Coast Games in 2018.

She will face India's Jaismine Jaismine in the final, but plans to enjoy her semi-final win which guarantees at least another silver, by completing her Irish lesson for the day on the language app Duolingo.

"I was actually quite nervous today, more nervous than normal, I don't know why but I went in and stuck to the gameplan," she said.

"That girl [Daunakamakama] was in training camp with us in Belfast but I didn't get any rounds with her. I remember seeing her and thinking 'oh she's a good girl' so I had to get the tactics right and thank God I did.

"One more to go, I'm just going to enjoy today, recover, I need to do my Duolingo! I'm nearly on my 300-day streak of Irish so I'll go back, do that, get a bit of food and recover."

'Wasn't meant to be' for shocked Gallagher

Gallagher will take home a bronze after winning gold in 2022 [Getty Images]

Gallagher, who claimed gold in Birmingham four years ago but has since moved up a weight, was shocked by Namibia's Tryagain Morning Ndevelo in the men's lightweight, losing by split decision.

Ndevelo made a fast start and won the first round and he then edged a much more competitive second.

Gallagher came storming out in the third, connecting with a number of big punches, but it wasn't enough to force the stoppage he needed as he lost 3-2.

"It's a tough one to take. I thought I might have been up after the first, was down 3-2, that was alright and then down after the second and obviously it was an uphill battle into the third," he told BBC Sport NI.

"I knew I had to force the count or the stoppage, I caught him lovely a couple of times with the right and he buckled. I thought the referee broke it a couple of times when he could have let it resume.

"I thought a couple of times the referee was harsh but it wasn't meant to be and I'm disappointed."

The Tyrone native questioned the various scorecards of the judges, with those in his favour saying he won 30-26 and 30-27, while those three against him all said that Ndevelo won the fight 29-28.

"I looked at my scores after the fight and I got on one judge's scorecard 30-26, that's quite a convincing winner in someone's eyes and for a couple of other judges to go against me, it doesn't make sense," he added.

"The judging and officiating has been a bit questionable in this competition. I'm not someone to come out and question judges or referees, that's not my style I don't get involved in that, but when it happens to you it's hard to ignore it.

"I think it [judging] has been all over the place to be honest, it needs addressed in some shape or form."

'Ecstatic' Rock 'dug deep' to overcome Rainey

Rock is competing in her first Commonwealth Games [Getty Images]

Rock beat Scotland's Caitlyn Rainey in the women's welterweight by split decision after a ferocious fight.

The 23-year-old had work to do after losing the first round but she fought back well in a much-tighter second round and pressed on in an entertaining third to take a narrow 3-2 victory.

Rock will face England's Sacha Hickey for the chance to come away from her first Commonwealth Games with a gold medal.

"I'm ecstatic, that was such a tough fight and being down in the first round, the panic sets in but I just dug deep," she told BBC Sport NI.

"I think it shows what it meant, crying in the ring I never thought that would be me, you'd think I'd won it the way I was carrying on! But that's what it means, it's amazing, but the job's not done."

McConnell ready for a final 'big push' for gold

McConnell will face Wales' Orlando Holley-Sotomi in the gold medal bout [Getty Images]

McConnell picked up a unanimous decision win over Scotland's Sonny Kerr and is also one win away from a debut gold.

The 23-year-old controlled the contest from the off and landed better with his shots as Kerr tried to fight back to secure a comfortable passage to the final.

"It was more straightforward than my first fight, my first fight went down to the wire but I got the ring rust off first fight and I controlled the pace from the first bell.

"I picked my scores and knew I had it won after the first two [rounds]. I sort of took my foot off the gas the last round as I didn't want to walk into anything stupid or get a cut or anything, so big push tomorrow and ready to go."

McConnell will face Wales' Orlando Holley-Sotomi, who has impressed on his way to the final, but the Team NI boxer is ready for the challenge and the chance to go for gold.

"I know this opponent is going to be good, he has been dynamite throughout the tournament but if anyone is going to beat him it's me. Let the best man win and I'm going to give it my all tomorrow."

Garyn McAllister was forced to settle for bronze as he suffered a unanimous decision defeat in the men's heavyweight against Conor Williams from Wales.

Willie John McCartan will also take home bro...

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