O'Kane achieves Commonwealth dream

Four years after Eamonn O'Kane considered quitting boxing when a controversial verdict robbed him of a bronze medal in Melbourne, the Northern Ireland captain led an historic trio of gold medal triumphs in Delhi.

O'Kane stormed past England's Anthony Ogogo 16-4 to claim middleweight gold and add to the afternoon gold medals for Paddy Barnes and Paddy Gallagher on a proud day for boxing in the province.

O'Kane said: "I trained hard for Melbourne and I got a rubbish decision and missed out on a medal. It was bugging me for so long my wife persuaded me to go back and I got my chance at Commonwealth gold. It's a dream come true to win a gold medal so emphatically. I am even prouder to be the captain of this team."

Earlier, Barnes had claimed Northern Ireland's first Commonwealth boxing gold since 1994 the light-flyweight eased past Namibia's Jafet Uutoni 8-4 to round off a flawless campaign in which he emphatically lived up to his pre-tournament billing as the outstanding favourite for gold.

Barnes had fallen behind in a tight opener but stabbed out two rights to shade the first round 3-1 and built on his advantage, maintaining his two-point lead into the last before pulling away for an impressive win.

And there was more joy for Northern Ireland and Belfast in particular when Gallagher stepped up a gear in the final round to beat England's Callum Smith 11-6 and claim the province's second gold.

Lanky Smith had clawed back from 4-1 down at the end of the first round to level but Gallagher scored four unanswered right hands at the start of the third to make his eventual victory a comfortable one.

But Belfast bar-tender Thomas McCarthy failed to make it a fourth gold for Northern Ireland. McCarthy was well beaten 8-1 by Scotland's Callum Johnson.in their light-heavyweight bout.

And the night ended in disappointment as heavyweight Steven Ward was forced to settle for silver after being stopped in the first round of his final against the powerful Simon Vallily of England.

Ward was already 6-1 down when Vallily clattered home a straight left which wobbled Ward's legs then plunged him to the canvas. Despite clambering to his feet the referee wisely waved it off with one minute two seconds left in the round.