Everyone loves a Friday, and this one has the potential to be extra special in Ireland. With five medals already guaranteed, this is already the most successful Irish Olympic team since as far back as 1956, and today is a massive day in this particular Irish Olympic quest.

Following hot on the heels of Katie Taylor’s magnificent Gold medal triumph yesterday, there are not one, not two, but three Irish men boxing in Olympic semi-finals today.

Here’s the line-up for the Irish men’s boxing Olympic Fantastic Friday.

  • Light-flyweight Paddy Barnes will take on Zou Shiming from China in the semi-final at 13.30 Irish time (GMT)
  • Twenty-three-old boxer, John Joe Nevin, from Mullingar, County Westmeath, faces Lazaro Alvarez Estrada in the semi-finals of the bantamweight division at 14:00 Irish time (GMT)
  • Twenty-year-old Michael Conlan will bid for a place in the flyweight final at 20:45 Irish time (GMT)



      All three men have brought a lot to these games, and have their own style and tactics. Personally I am a huge fan of Nevin’s fantastic footwork and discipline, however the other two lads have their own abilities. It should also be noted, Paddy Barnes is the first Irish boxer to win a medal at consecutive Olympic Games. He won bronze the last time round in Beijing. That’s special in itself, and who will forget how the young man survived a crazy head-butt attempt from an Indian boxer in the quarter finals to get this far.

      What a huge day for Irish boxing, and what a huge day potentially for Irish Olympic history.

      Best of luck to the three lads.

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