Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist in Glasgow

Image source, Simone Castrovilliari - Team NI

Adam McKeown and Gary Kelly will have a chance to finish the Commonwealth Games in style for Northern Ireland after winning the extra end tie-break to beat Malaysia’s Amirul Danial Abdul Rahim and Mohammad Soufi Rsulu and reach Sunday morning’s final.

They’ll face the English pairing of Nick Brett and Jamie Walker (09:00BST) and are guaranteed to win the 16th medal for Northern Ireland.

The duo had reached the knockout stages by winning their final group game against Fiji in straight sets 9-1, 7-1 and they kept that form going in the first set of the semi-final, finishing it off 9-1 with an end to spare.

Credit must go to the Malaysian pair who found their game from the first end of the second set and comfortably took it 8-2 sending the game to the dreaded extra end.

It was McKeown who played the winning bowl, shutting the door on the Malaysians.

“We've continued the theme of opening strongly, which is critical in this format. Give yourself the lifeline of the tiebreak if needed,” McKeown told BBC Sport NI.

“Probably played our first bad end in the first end of the second set, and they capitalised.

“Then it's just trying to get ready for that tiebreak, playing the big bowl, which we managed to do.”

Whatever happens in the final Kelly, who won bronze in the men’s singles, is going to win his fourth Commonwealth Games medal joining fellow bowler Neil Booth, Michaela Walsh, Lady Mary Peters and Mike Bull but unlike the other three he has yet to win a gold.

“At the end of the day, that's the colour that we all aspire to achieve. It's the one that I haven't got yet, but I'm definitely looking forward to the challenge,” said Kelly.

“I know how good this English pair are. But look, I'll be honoured to share the rink with them and go toe-to-toe with them.

“Let's just hope that we're good enough and we perform well enough and things go our way.”

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist in Glasgow

Image source, Getty Images

It's the penultimate day of action for Team Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games. Here is what is in store on Saturday in Glasgow.

Judo action begins at the SEC Centre and Joshua Green will go in the last 16 of the men's 73kg against Togo's Mattheo Lawson at 11:12 with Rachel Hawkes in the women's 70kg quarter-final against New Zealand's Moira de Villiers at 13:00.

A number of boxers will be going for gold in their various finals. First up is reigning champion Michaela Walsh, who will take on India's Jaismine Jaismine at 11:15 in the women's featherweight.

Kaci Rock will then fight in the women's welterweight final against England's Sacha Hickey at 11:45.

At 13:15, Jon McConnell goes in the men's light-middleweight against Wales' Orlando Holley-Sotomi.

In bowls, Gary Kelly and Adam McKeown are in men's pairs action against Fiji at 11:20.

If they make it through, their semi-final will take place at 19:15.

At the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Matti Dobbins will be in men's 10km scratch race at 11:49 while Erin Creighton, Emma Jeffers and Esther Wong will compete in the women's 25km points race at 15:55.

In athletics, Callum Morgan and Nick Griggs will go in the men's 5000m final at 19:45 at Scotstoun Stadium.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist in Glasgow

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Burns finished fifth for Northern Ireland in the C1-C3 1000m individual time trial at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

The Banbridge Club cyclist is competing in his first Commonwealth Games and was just over two seconds off a podium place finishing in 1:09.775.

The event was won by Devon Briggs from New Zealand in a time of 1:05.536.

Elsewhere on the first day of action for Northern Ireland riders, Esther Wong was 11th in the women’s 4km individual pursuit.

Team mates Erin Creighton and Emma Jeffers were 10th and 11th respectively in the women’s scratch race while Matti Dobbins finished 20th in the men’s elimination race.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist in Glasgow

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Ireland’s Adam McKeown and Gary Kelly have their destiny in the men’s pairs competition in their own hands.

They beat Australians Corey Wedlock and Aaron Teys 7-2, 5-5 to remain unbeaten after four games and a win over Fiji on Saturday morning will see them reach the semi-finals.

The world outdoor pairs champions were imperious in the opening set, not allowing the Australians to score until the final end but after Wedlock and Teys had wrestled the jack away from Kelly and McKeown and shortened the ends their comeback was on.

A one-end tie break was looking likely when the Australians led 5-1 and held the shot with Kelly’s last bowl to come.

The singles bronze medalist from these Games then produced a stunningly accurate bowl that produced four shots for Northern Ireland, tie the set 5-5 and win the match.

“We were actually discussing the shot, it was one of those both of us saw straight away,” explained Kelly.

“And we were just hoping and praying that Aaron missed his cover ball to allow the opportunity.

“We were lucky that he missed, so there's no ifs and buts, you know, we were 100% committed to that shot, and just thankfully it came off for us.”

After such an exciting conclusion, the duo now have to focus on getting that final group win.

“It's in our own hands,” said McKeown. ”Listen, the format allows anyone to beat anyone, so we have to fully concentrate and try to get over the line. But yeah, we knew this was a big hurdle. Two fantastic players, two great fellas as well.

“To get over the line with not playing a tiebreak as well is huge for the group dynamics. So yeah, it's good rest tonight, and hopefully do it again in the morning.”

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist in Glasgow

Image source, Getty Images

Shauna O’Neill bowed out of the women’s singles competition after a straight sets defeat by Guernsey’s Ali Merrien.

The two bowlers had gone into this crucial game unbeaten and there wan’t much between them as they traded shots.

In the first set, it looked like O’Neill had it under control when three shots in the fourth end opened up a 5-2 lead.

Merrien, however, struck back immediately with three of her own and although O’Neill took a 6-5 lead into the final end of the set, Merrien produced an excellent last bowl to take it 7-6.

The fifth end of the second set settled the game with the Channel Islander scoring three to open a 5-2 lead, going on to win it 7-3.

O’Neill still has one game to play, against Singapore on Friday evening but even if Merrien loses her final game, she has the tiebreaker advantage of sets won.

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Ireland picked up their first netball win at the Commonwealth Games in their final game as they secured a resounding 78-39 victory over Trinidad and Tobago at the Hydro.

The win for the Warriors, who finished bottom of Pool A, ensures they finish the competition in 11th place with Trinidad and Tobago, who finished bottom of Pool B, ending up 12th.

NI dominated the first quarter to lead 19-10 and really took control in the second, scoring 21 times to move 40-18 ahead.

The Warriors pressed on after the half-time break and extended their advantage to 60-28 after the third quarter.

The final quarter was a bit closer, with NI winning it 18-11 to end a tough Games campaign on a high.

Image source, Inpho

Team Northern Ireland super-heavyweight boxer Willie John McCartan has been withdrawn from his Commonwealth Games semi-final due to an elbow injury.

McCartan, who was competing at his first Games, powered past Ghana's Daniel Plange in his quarter-final to guarantee a bronze medal.

He was set to fight Damar Thomas on Friday night at the SEC Centre for a chance at a gold medal bout on Saturday.

But the Englishman has been handed a walkover through to the final due to McCartan's injury, with the 28-year-old having to settle for bronze.

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist in Glasgow

Image source, Getty Images

We've made it to day eight of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and it's a big one for boxing with a number of semi-finals as the athletes look to upgrade on the bronze medals they have already won.

Northern Ireland's netball team play an 11th/12th place classification match against Trinidad and Tobago at the Hydro at 09:00 BST.

Cycling action starts at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, with Esther Wong going in the women's 400m individual pursuit qualification at 10:30.

Chris Burns will compete in the men's C1/2 1000m time trial at 17:15.

Erin Creighton, Wong and Emma Jeffers will go in the women's 10k scratch race qualification at 17:56 while Matti Dobbins will compete in the qualification of the men's elimination race at 19:23

At 11:00 BST in the SEC Centre, Kaci Rock goes in the women's welterweight semi-final against Scotland's Caitlyn Rainey.

In the afternoon, reigning champion Michaela Walsh takes on Fiji's Jasmine Daunakamakama in the women's featherweight at 14:30.

In the men's light-middleweight, Jon McConnell fights against home favourite Sonny Kerr at 16:15 and Garyn McAllister goes at 16:30 in the men's heavyweight against Connor Williams from Wales.

Jude Gallagher, gold medallist four years ago, takes on Tryagain Morning Ndevelo from Namibia at 20:45 in the men's lightweight.

Willie John McCartan has been withdrawn from his bout due to injury.

Bowler Shauna O'Neill goes in the women's singles against Guernsey at 12:45 then again at 20:40 against Singapore.

Gary Kelly and Adam McKeown are in men's pairs action against Australia at 19:15.

In athletics, Eve Walsh-Dann will compete in the women's long jump T37/38 at 20:05.

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Team Northern Ireland's Omar Keshta finished in seventh in the weightlifting +110kg final at the SEC Armadillo.

Keshta, making his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow, successfully lifted 142kg with his snatch, but failed on his final attempt to reach 145kg.

In the clean and jerk, he completed a lift of 177kg but was unsuccessful in his two attempts to then lift 183kg as he finished with a final score of 319kg.

The gold medal was won by New Zealand's David Liti with India's Lovepreet Singh taking silver and England's Andrew Griffiths claiming bronze.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist in Glasgow

Image source, Getty Images

World pairs champions Adam McKeown and Gary Kelly were in dominant form as they beat Pakistan 11-1, 16-0 to make it two wins to start their men’s pairs campaign.

Maqsood Waseem Khan and Mohammed Ayub Qureshi were no match for the Northern Ireland duo who have started the competition in fine form.

However, only the group winners will qualify for the semi-finals so Thursday night's game against the New Zealand pair of Tony Grantham and Ali Forsyth will be crucial as they have also started with two wins.

Meanwhile Shauna O’Neill remains unbeaten after three games of the women’s singles group stages.

The Limavady bowler had a comfortable 9-2, 10-2 win over Catherine Papani from Niue Island.

It’s sets up a clash with Guernsey’s Ali Merrien on Thursday that could well determine who advances to the semi-finals.

Merrien is also unbeaten after three games.

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Winless Northern Ireland suffered another heavy defeat in netball as they lost 88-27 against world number one ranked Australia at the Hydro.

Australia raced out of the blocks and led 27-6 after a dominant first quarter and they further extended their advantage in the second to lead 47-10 at half-time.

The Warriors, as they have done in previous games, rallied in the third scoring 12 times, but Australia regained control in the final period to ease to victory.

The big victory gives Australia a four-point cushion at the top of Pool A over England, having played a game more.

NI prop up the pool and are set to play the 11th/12th classification match on Friday against Trinidad and Tobago, who also lost all five group games, at 09:00 BST.

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist in Glasgow

Image source, Getty Images

It is a much quieter day for Team Northern Ireland athletes at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

At 09:55 BST at the SEC Centre, bowlers Gary Kelly and Adam McKeown face Pakistan in the men's pairs and they then take on New Zealand at 19:15

Shauna O'Neill is in women's singles action against Niue at 15:00.

Northern Ireland's netball team take on Australia at the Hydro at 16:00.

Omar Ketsha will compete in the weightlifting men's 110+kg final at the SEC Armadillo from 18:30.

Kate O'Connor will receive her gold medal for the heptathlon at the medal ceremony at Scotstoun Stadium at 18:30.