Christina Desmond has missed out on silver at the European Championships in Sofia.

The Cork middleweight was beaten on a split decision in the past few moments by Maily Nicar of France.

Desmond had already been guaranteed bronze by beating Russia’s Oksana Trofimova on Sunday in the quarter-final in order to qualify for the semi-finals.

That result ensured that Desmond joined Katie Taylor and Clare Grace as the only other female Irish boxers to medal at this event - with Taylor the only one to progress to the final.

But a victory would have given her a chance to battle for gold as she lost by split decision to Nicar.

Desmond was also a medalist at the World University Games, winning bronze.

It is Ireland's only medal after world silver medallist Kellie Harrington exited before the quarter-final stage.