McConnell Claims Medal at European Championships

Jude Gallagher secured a spot in the lightweight quarter-finals after defeating Lounes Hamraoi of France by third-round stoppage. Gallagher, initially trailing on points after the first round, intensified his attack in the second and third rounds, forcing standing counts before the referee stopped the fight.

He will face Ewart Andrés Marín Hernández, a Spanish boxer of Cuban origin, in his quarter-final bout on Wednesday. Gallagher commented on his strategy, noting, "I tried to box him in the first round. He was a counter-puncher, southpaw, and just edged me in the first round when I was a bit slow. I had to change the tactics in the second round and bring the fight to him, hurt him with a body shot, [forced] a count in the second and finished him in the third, so I'm delighted."

In the lightweight category, Kellie McLoughlin's run ended in the last 16. McLoughlin, who stepped in as a late replacement for the injured Kellie Harrington, lost a 4-1 split decision to France's Sthélyne Grosy.

Middleweight competitor Gavin Rafferty was also eliminated. He lost to Poland's Mateusz Urban by unanimous decision, with Rafferty having a point deducted in the final round.

McConnell Secures Medal at European Championships

Earlier on Monday, Jude Gallagher booked his place in the lightweight quarter-finals with a third-round stoppage of France's Lounes Hamraoi. The County Tyrone man was down on four cards after the first round, but stepped it up in the second and third, forcing standing counts before the contest was waved off. Gallagher will now look forward to a quarter-final on Wednesday when he takes on Cuban-born Spanish boxer, Ewart Andrés Marín Hernández. 'I tried to box him in the first round,' Gallagher told Boxing Ireland after his win. 'He was a counter-puncher, southpaw, and just edged me in the first round when I was a bit slow. I had to change the tactics in the second round and bring the fight to him, hurt him with a body shot, [forced] a count in the second and finished him in the third, so I'm delighted.' It wasn't to be for Team Ireland's Kellie McLoughlin in her last 16 bout at lightweight. The Dubliner - who was a late replacement for the injured Kellie Harrington - lost out on a 4-1 split decision to France's Sthélyne Grosy. Middleweight Gavin Rafferty also bowed out, beaten by Poland's Mateusz Urban on a unanimous decision with a point deducted in the final round.