Middleweight boxer Michael O'Reilly has secured a place at the Rio Olympics after winning in Baku on Thursday afternoon.
O'Reilly produced a strong display to beat Shinebayor Narmandakh of Mongolia and Tuesday, and Kamran Shakhsuvarly of Azerbaijan on Thursday, which clinched his spot at this year's Games.
There will now be eight Irish boxers at the tournament (seven male fighters and Katie Taylor), meaning that there is a very good chance that the team will home with medals around their necks.
A number of journalists and fans have taken to Twitter since he qualified to send their congratulations, highlighting the fantastic individual achievement as well as the collective strength to the Irish boxing unit.
Fantastic news that Michael O'Reilly has qualified for Rio. Supremely talented middleweight. Well done everyone @IABABOXING
— Paul McDermott (@pmcdisc) June 23, 2016
absolutely delighted for Michael O'Reilly. World bronze medalist, he can repeat that in Rio this summer. Irish boxing team up to 8 now
— Dodge (@seidodge) June 23, 2016
Michael O'Reilly going to Rio. Eight Irish boxers now qualified, which is huge achievement. Lot of medal contenders in there.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) June 23, 2016
