Team NI’s Commonwealth Games medal tally has risen to six, following the second day of quarter finals in Glasgow.
Defending 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. Michaela is back in action and boxing for an up-grade on Friday afternoon against Fiji’s Jasmine Daunakamakama
Speaking after her win, Michaela says “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 Jude 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.
Semi Finals.
Thursday is a rest day in Glasgow, and all semi finals will be boxed from 10:30am on Friday.
First up is 65kg Holy Trinity boxer, Kaci Rock. She takes on Caitlin Rainey of Scotland at 11am.
At 2:30pm, defending featherweight champ, Michaela Walsh, boxes Fiji’s Jasmine Daunakamakama to step up the podium.
Kaci’s club mate, 70kg Jon McConnell, is back in action at 4:15pm against home boxer, Sonny Kerr.
Heavyweight Garyn McAllister steps between the ropes at 4:30pm, taking on Connor Williams of Wales for a place in the finals. And at 8:45pm, Jude Gallagher takes on Namibia’s Tryagain Morning for silver.
Superheavy Willie John McCartan is back between the ropes at 9:15pm against England’s Damar Thomas
The Games
Boxing at the SEC Centre on the Scottish Event Campus will take place from Friday July 24th to Saturday, August 1st,: July 30th is a rest day.
Afternoon Sessions will, typically, begin at 11am and Evening Sessions at 6pm. The complete Games schedule is available here
How to Watch
- Every event will be available exclusively live across all subscription plans, including TNT Sports 2 (The Commonwealth Games 360) and all live event streams. Further details on plans and pricing can be found here.
- EE TV: Customers can enjoy all the action via TNT Sports on HBO Max dependent on their subscription type.
- Sky: Customers can enjoy the full Commonwealth Games experience on TNT Sports and HBO Max, depending on their subscription.
- NOW: Customers can access the Commonwealth Games 360 channel via TNT Sports 2 with a Now Entertainment & HBO Max Membership, and in Ireland via TNT Sports
- Virgin Media TV UK and Ireland: TNT Sports customers can watch the coverage via their set-top box (as well as via HBO Max in the U.K).
- Prime Video: In the UK, coverage is available via a TNT Sports subscription. TNT Sports 2 and all live event streams are also available on any HBO Max subscription.
Team NI
51kg Caitlin Fryers, Immaculata BC
54kg Nicole Clyde, Antrim BC.
55kg Louis Rooney, Star BC
57kg Michaela Walsh, Holy Family BC
60kg Jude Gallagher Two Castles OBA
65kg JP Hale, Star BC
65kg Kaci Rock, Holy Trinity BC
70kg Jon McConnell, Holy Trinity BC
70kg Janssen Hill, Holy Trinity BC
80kg Eoghan Quinn, St John’s, Swatragh
90kg Garyn McAllister, North Down BC
90+kg Willie Jon McCartan, Gilford BC