Conlan’s Olympics over after judging controversy

It was a day of contrasting emotions for the Ireland team in Rio yesterday, as the joy of a second medal was offset by another painful defeat in the boxing ring.

Michael Conlan went into his fight against Russia’s Vladimir Nikitin as the nation’s last boxer standing, and he found himself on the wrong end of a highly controversial unanimous decision despite dominating all three rounds of the bantamweight quarter-final.

Afterwards a justifiably angry Conlan pulled no punches, he said: “We’ve seen the Russian’s reaction after. He didn’t believe he won, I didn’t believe he won, the crowd didn’t believe he won. I don’t even think his corner believed he won and he reacted like he had won an Olympic gold medal.

“Today, I wouldn’t have even celebrated. I was here for gold. My Olympic dream has been ruined. I’ll never box in AIBA competition again because I feel they are probably one of the most corrupt organisations in the world.”

Annalise Murphy sails to silver

However later in the day Annalise Murphy secured Ireland’s second medal of the Games, winning silver in the women’s laser radial sailing event.

Four years on from an agonising day in the London Olympics which saw her miss out on a medal, Murphy delivered a performance to remember at Guanabara Bay and double the naiton’s medal tally: “It hasn’t really sunk in, I’m just so happy,” she said.

Daragh Ó Sé believes Mayo will end Tipp fairytale

In his column today Daragh Ó Sé suggests that despite Tipperay’s brilliant run, Mayo will end their fairytale in Sunday’s All-Irleand semi-final, he writes: “They want to take care of business like the hardened animal they are. This isn’t their first rodeo, they’ve seen everything Croke Park can throw at them - good and bad. There was no point putting Tyrone away like that if they don’t follow it up on Sunday.”