Ceire Smith defeated in split decision

Ballyhaise fighter Ceire Smith was defeated this lunchtime in a split decision in Samsun, Turkey.

The Cavan boxer was beaten on points in her flyweight (51kg) European Olympic qualifiers' quarter-final at the Crystal Hall.

Smith, trained by veteran coach Brian McKeown, was edged out by Ukraine’s Tetyana Kob on a split decision in their flyweight encounter.

She was two wins away from qualifying for the Olympics and the southpaw had already secured a unanimous decision against Hungary's Virginia Barankai in her opener.

Smith trailed by just a single point on one judge’s card going into the final round, but was unable to turn it around in the final two minutes.