KATIE TAYLOR TAKES GOLD

Ireland's Katie Taylor has beaten Russia's Sofya Ochigava 10-8 and won Olympic gold for Ireland.

The 26-year-old from Bray, Co Wicklow, came from behind to win the female boxing lightweight final at the ExCeL Arena in London.

The fight was tied at 2-2 after the first round, and Taylor trailed 4-3 after the second. However, she went on to win the third round 4-1 to lead 7-5, and held on for the win.

It is the first Olympic Games in which women competed inside the boxing ring and her fight attracted intense national and international attention.

Taylor kissed her Olympic gold when it was presented to her in front of a capacity crowd.

Speaking of her victory, she said she had dreamt of this moment so many times before.

Minister of State Michael Ring, who was at the venue, said that the ''roof almost lifted'' and that the ''atmosphere was simply electric.'

'President Michael D Higgins has described the victory as magnificent and said it had lifted the spirit of the nation.

Many work-places around the country closed early for the bout, which began shortly before 5pm.

Big screens were in place in her home town where thousands of fans watched her box her way to victory and a gold medal.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said Taylor was ''a force of nature whose pioneering spirit and boxing brilliance have seen her realise her personal dream of winning Olympic gold.''

KATIE TAYLOR THROUGH TO OLYMPIC SEMI-FINAL

Katie Taylor has guaranteed herself at least a bronze medal at the London Olympics after a comprehensive victory in the women's lightweight boxing quarter-final over Great Britain's Natasha Jonas.

The Bray fighter was in charge throughout the bout and Jonas had no answer for her accuracy, her intensity or her punching power.

Taylor ran out a 26-15 winner after the four rounds, forcing her opponent to take two standing counts during the fight.

Taylor made the walk to the ring to a rapturous reception and for the first time during the London games, the Great Britain supporters took a back seat, being out-sung and out-cheered by a huge Irish crowd.

The 26-year-old looked calm and collected as she entered the ring and was out of the blocks first as she took the fight to Jonas during the opening round.

Taylor connected with a powerful flurry of punches after just 30 seconds, looking to have scored with at least two of her shots.
Jonas was struggling to find her range, hitting air as Taylor jumped in and then danced out of trouble and although she managed to connect with her left on the counter, Jonas was off the pace and lost the first round 5-2.

To her credit, Jonas took the fight to the four-time World Champion in the second round and had the Irish woman reeling in the first minute of the second round.

A more aggressive Jonas was working well behind her left jab and landing scoring blows as Taylor struggled with the awkward angled punches that the Liverpool fighter was throwing.
A slip from Taylor gave her the chance to regroup and she managed to slow the pace of the fight with two powerful body shots as she regained control.

"I knew the support was going to be good here but I didn’t realise it was going to be so great" - Katie Taylor.

A scoreline of 5-5 was a fair reflection on the round, but that was as good as it was to get for Jonas.

Knowing that the fight was at a crossroads, Taylor came out full of purpose and immediately had Jonas on the back foot.

Two stinging right hooks rattled the southpaw and Taylor pressed home her advantage as another powerful right caught Jonas flush and forced her into a standing count.
Jonas was now looked spent.
Her defence was increasingly ragged and although she was still having limited joy with her left jab, Taylor was scoring freely and took the round 9-4.

Taylor was again right in Jonas' face at the start of the fourth round, forcing the exhausted Liverpool woman back.
All the strength had gone from Jonas at this stage and her punches lacked the power she has displayed in the second round.
The reigning world champion was blocking anything Jonas could muster with ease and rocking her opponent as she seemingly scored at will on the counter.

The fight was already over as a contest when Jonas was forced to take her second standing count of the afternoon and Taylor pressed home her advantage to win the final round 7-4.

Next up for the Irish fighter is the semi-final where she will take on Manzuna Chorieva of Tajikistan, who beat China’s Cheng Dong 13-8 in their quarter-final.

Afterwards Taylor paid tribute to the huge contingent of Irish supporters in the crowd, who cheered her on the way to victory."It was unbelievable here, I couldn’t wait to get out. I just tried to stay calm and composed throughout the whole thing but it was hard not get excited at the end," she told RTÉ Sport.

Taylor also revealed that she went off plan in the second round and felt that she allowed Jonas too much of an opportunity to get back into the fight."I didn’t do what I was told in the second round, I was staying in there a bit too long and getting caught with back hands."
"I was happy to stay three points up after the second round so I just had to push her back in the third round and thankfully I got a good lead for the last round."

Well done Katie, lets hope you go all the way to gold.

HURLING: GALWAY BEAT KILKENNY

History was made at Croke Park as Galway claimed a first Leinster SHC title as they recorded a 2-21 to 2-11 victory against Kilkenny.

The All-Ireland champions were outfoxed by the dynamic Tribesmen, who were once again inspired by the talismanic Joe Canning, who ended the game with a personal haul of 1-10.

Cyril Donnellan contributed six points from play.

It was a Galway performance sprinkled with heroic performances as Kilkenny failed to contain their rivals.Galway stunned the Cats with a cool exhibition of hurling in the first half as the Tribesmen thundered into the contest.

Anthony Cunningham's team were primed for battle and their diligent work ethic was critical during of an amazing opening quarter.Gaining in confidence, Galway moved the sliotar quickly inside and their fluid forward line put in a splendid show.

Damien Hayes was given a free role out the field and that helped Galway seize control initially at centrefield.With Iarla Tannian and Andy Smyth dovetailing well, Galway were intent on grabbing scores early and often.

That is precisely what they did as Galway scorched into a commanding 1-06 to 0-0 lead after 18 minutes.

Unsurprisingly, Canning occupied a significant role in Galway's blistering start, netting a splendid third-minute goal.

Tannian's delivery vexed Jackie Tyrell and Canning took maximum advantage to smash an opportunistic goal.

Canning was accurate from frees, while Niall Burke and Donnellan were also motoring effectively for Galway.

Kilkenny finally registered a score 20 minutes in when Henry Shefflin batted over a free, but Galway responded by hitting 1-05 on the spin.

The goal arrived in the 23rd minute when David Burke scampered clear before blasting past Kilkenny custodian David Herity.

Brian Cody's Kilkenny improved slightly as the interval approached trimming the half time deficit down to 2-12 to 0-04 following two Shefflin frees.

After the restart, Kilkenny needed goals and they got one in the 44th minute when Richie Hogan scored following a Richie Power pass.

Galway, though, replied with three points in a row from Canning (0-02) and David Burke to edge 2-16 to 1-06 ahead.

But then Shefflin flicked a goal in the 49th minute to narrow the margin again, but Galway still led 2-19 to 1-11 with only five minutes remaining.

But a gritty and determined Galway were composed in the closing stages to eke out a historic success at GAA headquarters.

Scorers: Galway: J Canning (1-10, 7fs), C Donnellan (0-06), D Burke (1-02), N Burke (0-01), D Collins (0-01), D Hayes (0-01).

Kilkenny: H Shefflin (1-08, 7fs), R Hogan (1-0), R Power (0-2), M Rice (0-1).