Elation for Tyrone's Gallagher, heartbreak for Waterford's Cassidy at Olympic boxing qualifier
Victory Over Jude His Gallagher Picture: Shukur Bound; After Ben Of Turkmenistan Mcshane/sportsfile Olympics Ovezov
Jude Gallagher has become the sixth Irish boxer to secure a place at this summer's Olympic Games in Paris.
The 22-year-old from Tyrone defeated Shukur Ovezov of Turkmenistan by unanimous decision at the quarter-final stage of the Olympic boxing qualifier in Italy to claim one of the four Paris quota places available in the 57kg category.
After an even opening 90 seconds of the first round, Gallagher stepped it up in the second 90. He rocked Ovezov several times, and had him on the deck on more than one occasion. The 22-year-old won the opening round 10-9 on all five judges' cards.
In the second round, though he took some big shots, Gallagher landed far more of his own. He again forced a standing eight count on Ovezov and took the round unanimously, with one judge giving it to him 10-8.
To seal his Olympic spot in the final round, considering the lead he had accumulated, all Gallagher needed to do was stay on his feet. He did more than that and was again awarded the round by every judge.
"Absolutely amazing. Words can't describe what it feels like," Gallagher said after the fight.
"Ever since I started boxing, started progressing in boxing, my goal was to box at the Olympic Games. It was always in sight but now that it has come true I can't believe it."
Gallagher said "sticking to the coaches' game plan" is what has him on the plane to Paris.
"Throughout this tournament my faith and trust in the coaches has just grown from the game plans they gave me and carrying them out in the ring," he added.
"It's sort of like a surprise to me, that this actually works, but its no surprise because they're top-class coaches.
"Sticking to their game plan just got me over the line, being patient being key, working on the outside of that southpaw got me over the line in the end."
Ovezov had beaten Carlo Paalam of the Philippines, a silver medallist at the Tokyo Olympics, in the last 16. Though Paalam was forced to retire from the fight due to injury.
As the competition is fought to quota, Gallagher's tournament is now over. Once home, Gallagher said the first thing he's going to do is order a takeaway.
"Oh my god. I'd have to say get a Chinese," he said.
"It has to be a Chinese. Maybe an Indian. I'm leaning more towards an Indian than a Chinese now these days, so I'll definitely get an Indian."
Just as he'd done last summer at the European Games, Waterford native Kelyn Cassidy suffered a narrow defeat at the quarter-final stage.
After losing the opening round 4-1 to reigning 80kg world champion Nurbek Oralbay from Kazakhstan, the 26-year-old came back into the fight in the second round to give himself a chance going into the last. However, it was not enough as he lost the fight by a 3-2 split decision.
Like Walsh, Cassidy will also be hoping to be selected for May's qualifier.
Earlier on Monday, Offaly native Gráinne Walsh suffered a controversial defeat to Aneta Rygielska of Poland in her quarter-final.
"What can I say, I'm very happy Jude has qualified," said Ireland head coach Zaur Antia.
"I felt we could have had more but it did not go as we had thought.
"I'm very happy we have one person at 57 kilo and he performed very well and we have now six Olympians, that's very, very good.
"We had some disappointments as well, we expected a bit more, but everything is about experience.
"We'll go back, we'll sit down and watch videos, point out areas where we can improve and where made mistakes. We'll go again."
The five Irish boxers who had already qualified for Paris were reigning lightweight Olympic champion, Kellie Harrington, Michaela Walsh (57kg), Aoife O’Rourke (75kg), Dean Clancy (63.5kg), and heavyweight Jack Marley.