MEDAL ALERT – Super Six – Team NI Increase Medal Haul

Team NI’s Commonwealth Games medal tally has risen to six, following the second day of quarter finals in Glasgow.

Defending featherweight champion, Michaela Walsh, has secured at least a Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games bronze medal. She was utterly dominant throughout her quarter final against Scotland’s Lara Brown, recording a 5-0 win on a scoreline of 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30. The recording breaking All Irish Champion is back in action and boxing for an up-grade on Friday afternoon against Fiji’s Jasmine Daunakamakama

Speaking after her win, she said “My opponent has been the same – it’s been a long wait. The girl is very young and inexperienced. I said to her afterwards, she’s 19 years of age, she gave me a hell of a fight. I remember I was a kid coming to these Commonwealth Games fighting big names and that experience will stand to her. I think she’s an amazing girl and an amazing opponent. The future is bright for her.”

And she adds that she does have gears to go through “Oh yeah, definitely, I was just being careful sticking to the gameplan. My goal here – I want to enjoy myself and I want to perform to the best of my ability. If the best of my ability gets me on to the podium, on to the top of the podium, that’s what it will be but I’m just here to be the best version of me and we’ll see how it goes’. Michaela is now a four time Commonwealth Games medalist, having won silver in 2014 and 2018, and gold in 2022.

Co-Captain Jude Gallagher has won his second Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games medal. The Birmingham 2022 featherweight champ, now contesting at lightweight, came through a quarter final battle against Zambia’s Albert Ngulube to book his place on the podium. The Two Castles OBA clubman is back in action on Friday, boxing his semi final against the winner of the QF between Namibia and Guernsey

Speaking to TNT Sport after his bout Gallagher said “Yeah, happy now, in to the medal stages now, got me bronze medal. Its time to go on now, push through the gears a wee bit now and upgrade that medal – go for that gold. I caught him some big shots in the first round. I didn’t think he would have took the shots as well as he did. But he did, and he kept coming on stronger and stronger. Very tough. Very fit. Very well conditioned but me boxing just beat him, you know, got through….won it 3-2. Like I said, its time to go up through the gears now and progress in this tournament.

Willie John McCartan has just won at least a Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games bronze medal. He was completely dominant in his superheavy quarter final against Daniel Plange of Ghana, and came away with the 5-0 win. The Gilford ABC boxer awaits the winner of the bout now underway between England and Uganda in Friday’s semi finals.

Speaking after his bout, Willie John said “Unbelievable. I’ve seen the wee lads there on a recovery day and I was trying to visualise and manifest this and, thank God, here we go. Bronze medal – unbelievable!” Of the contest, he says “It was nothing like the spar I had with him in Belfast during the international camp. There was a lot more boxing but in there, Jesus Christ, it was tough in the clinch. You could definitely feel the difference in weight there. Look, I’m glad I got through this one. Hopefully there’s more in me.”

Jon McConnell is a bronze medalist, and semi-finalist, following the withdrawal of his opponent, Bahamian Carl Heild.

A battling, stylish performance by Caitlin Fryers in her Glasgow 51kg quarter final. She took on India’s Shakshi – a 2025 World Boxing Cup champion at 54kg, in a high tempo contest. The decision went to Sakshi, but Caitlin can be proud of her CWG journey. Judges scored the bout 27: 29; 25: 29; 27: 29; 26: 29; 27: 29, reflecting a point deduction for holding for the Indian boxer.

Speaking to TNT Sport after her bout, Caitlin said “Obviously not the result we wanted” Caitin adds she felt the bout could have turned her way following the second round point deduction “100%, yeah, I thought I got myself back in to it. I was coming back in to it. Obviously I didn’t get the final result but I’m happy with my performance and happy with the Games.

Jansseen Hill bows-out of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games with a quarter final performance full of guts and guile. The Holy Trinity’s 70kg athlete took on Paris Olympian and World Championship bronze medalist in her quarter final. She gave her all, but the decision went to the more experienced boxer.