Mission Accomplished says gold medalist O’Reilly

‘MISSION accomplished’ stated a confident Michael O’Reilly after he collected European Games gold.

The young middleweight prospect was most in the knows outside tip for gold in the inaugural tournament, but the Portlaois man was always confident he could leave his mark in Baku.

O’Reilly, who was one of a number of stand out Irish performers, had the same ‘not going to make up the numbers’ out look as his team mates.

“I knew getting the gold medal wasn’t going to be easy, but I didn’t go to make up the numbers. I went out there for one thing, to get the gold medal and that is what I got,” O’Reilly said in Dublin Airport on Monday.

“I am over the moon with it- mission accomplished. The hardest fight was the final. In the end I knew I won the fight, but I always had a little doubt in my mind going up against the home favourite.”

The Worlds are next for O’Reilly and an impressive run their could see him book a ticket to Rio 2016. Did the European Games persuade him Rio is reachable destination? Not really, O’Reilly is always confident of ring success.

“I am very confident going into the ring anyway. It just vies me a chance now to qualify for the World Championships and then a chance to qualify for Rio. That would be a dream come through.”