IRISH middleweight champion Brian Magee bagged bronze yesterday with a 6–4 victory at the European Senior Championships in Belarus and said: “I think I can do a lot more.”
The 22-year-old Belfast southpaw moved into today’s semi-final stages after a thrilling triumph over German hard man Harold Gaisler at the Palace of Sport in Minsk.
Magee held slight advantage over the first three rounds but Gaisler clawed his way back into the medal contention and going into the last the score was poised precariously at 4-4.
“It was a good fight but I think I could have done more, a lot more,” said the Holy Trinity middleweight.
“I feel there’s a lot more still in the tank, and I’m hoping it will get me through all the way.
“I never felt under any pressure today. Only in the last round after I had allowed Gaisler back into the fight did I feel any real urgency.
“I was hit with a couple of hard shots but I was surprised when I heard 4-4 at the end of the fourth. I know I can lift my performance a lot higher than this and I’m hoping I’ll show that over the next two fights.”
Two fights – two wins would guarantee European gold medal credentials for Ireland’s 75 kilos king.
It would be Ireland’s first gold since Dubliner Paul Griffin captured featherweight glory in Gothenburg in 1991 and only the second in almost half a century. Amateur fight fans have to leaf back to 1949 in Oslo for Maxie McCullagh’s golden lightweight display.
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DOWN minor manager Gerry Dougherty has brought on two new players to his side ahead of Sunday’s preliminary round replay against Tyrone.
Damien Campbell returns from suspension at wing-back, and Damien Rafferty is promoted from the bench after impressing as a substitute last week.
Free-taker and Hogan Cup star Aidan Fegan and Conor McCoy also move from the full-forward line to numbers 12 and 10, while last week’s corner-forward, Liam Doyle, swaps places with wing-back Anthony Devlin.
Down (minor v Tyrone): C Sloan (Rostrevor), B Kearney (Warrenpoint), M Feeney (Banbridge), D Campbell (Ballyholland), D Rafferty (Shamrocks), A O’Prey (Liatroim), A Devlin (Kilcoo), C Ferris (Bryansford), A McCarville (Bryansford), C McCoy (Shamrocks), C Savage (Ballykinlar), A Fegan (Annaclone), L Doyle (Liatroim), PJ McAlinden (Burren), K Oakes (Capt, Downpatrick).
Subs: J Kane (Kilcoo), P Hanna (Ballykinlar), K Polly (Kilclief), C McCrickard (Liatroim), C Boyle (Castlewellan), M Doran (Longstone), J Turley (Killyleagh), E Magee (Rostrevor), J Fegan (Clonduff).
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TYRONE brothers Conor and Niall Kerr gave the Red Hand county something to cheer about as they defeated Wicklow’s Frank Semple and Gerry McGrath to win their quarter-final match in the All-Ireland handball series at the weekend.
Both players are still in the singles and Niall will play Padraig Gaffney of Mayo at Collooney tomorrow, while Martin Golden of Sligo is Conor Kerr’s opponent in the second match on court.
Walter O’Connor found the favourite’s tag a heavy burden on Saturday in the Senior singles clash, with the up and coming Campbell Brennan of Mayo taking the first game 21-17.
O’Connor fought back to take the next two games 21- 15, 21-9, but he may find himself in another battle in his next match against Pat Quaile of Wicklow who was the surprise winner over last year’s finalist Egin Jensen of Meath 21-19, 7-21, 21-12.
Brendan Herron of Lamh Dhearg will be in line for their Juvenile of the year with his recent All-Ireland triumph against Wexford’s Liam Goff in the U15 singles.