Commonwealth Games 2026: ‘I need to do my Duolingo!’ – Michaela Walsh after semi-final win

Team Northern Ireland boxers Michaela Walsh, Kaci Rock and Jon McConnell won their respective semi-finals to move into Saturday’s gold medal bouts, but reigning champion Jude Gallagher will leave Glasgow with just a bronze after losing.

Walsh defeated Fiji’s Jasmine Daunakamakama in the women’s featherweight by unanimous decision.

The 33-year-old edged a cagey first round with her experience telling in the next two rounds which she also won as she eased to victory.

The Holy Family fighter, who has earned a medal in each of her four successive Games appearances, will look to win back-to-back golds after triumphing four years ago, having won silver in Glasgow in 2014 and at the Gold Coast Games in 2018.

She will face India’s Jaismine Jaismine in the final, but plans to enjoy her semi-final win which guarantees at least another silver, by completing her Irish lesson for the day on the language app Duolingo.

“I was actually quite nervous today, more nervous than normal, I don’t know why but I went in and stuck to the gameplan,” she said.

“That girl [Daunakamakama] was in training camp with us in Belfast but I didn’t get any rounds with her. I remember seeing her and thinking ‘oh she’s a good girl’ so I had to get the tactics right and thank God I did.

“One more to go, I’m just going to enjoy today, recover, I need to do my Duolingo! I’m nearly on my 300-day streak of Irish so I’ll go back, do that, get a bit of food and recover.”

Gallagher, who claimed gold in Birmingham four years ago was shocked by Namibia’s Tryagain Morning Ndevelo in the men’s lightweight, losing by split decision.

Ndevelo made a fast start and narrowly claimed the first round and was adjudged to have won the second which was much more competitive.

Gallagher came storming out in the third, connecting with a number of big punches, but it wasn’t enough to force the stoppage he needed as he lost 3-2.