Celebrations are underway in the north inner city, after boxer Kellie Harrington secured at least a silver medal at the Olympics.
The 31 year old beat Thailand’s Sudaporn Seesondee by split decision in the lightweight semi-final this morning.
She’s now through to the Olympic final on Sunday, where she will fight Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira.
Family, friends and neighbours were all up early in Portland Row to catch their local hero in action.
🥊RESULT🥊
— IABA (@IABABOXING) August 5, 2021
@Kelly64kg IS IN THE OLYMPIC FINAL!
A massive performance from Kellie in a very tight contest & she WINS via split decision (3-2) v 🇹🇭!
She now advances to Sundays Final guarantees herself at least a 🥈 medal!
Congrats Kellie!👏🇮🇪🥊#IABA #TeamIreland #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/Gh9jwc030w
Her brother Joel said it was unbelievable to watch his sister make an Olympic final.
"After years and years and years of graft, being happy, being upset, being frustrated, being motivated, being unmotivated and being everything in between, she's got where she deserves to be, and where she should be," he told us.
"That's the nicest part of it.
"We've seen all what Kellie has to do to get where is is, and the fights she's had outside of the ring, and that's probably the best part of it, that's what makes it sweet.
John McNally 1952 🥈
— Kevin Byrne (@KevByrneBox) August 5, 2021
Fred Tiedt 1956 🥈
Wayne McCullough 1992 🥈
Michael Carruth 1992 🥇
Kenneth Egan 2008 🥈
John Joe Nevin 2012 🥈
Katie Taylor 2012 🥇
The 8th Irish boxer to make it to an Olympic final is Kellie Harrington 2020/1 & going for 🥇
"She nearly gave us all heart attacks," said her Dad Christy.
"We knew she was going to win it, but still, the tension, and the movement, it's too much to handle.
"We never dreamed that this would come on us, we knew Kellie would do well in the Olympics and all that, but we didn't see this side hitting us.
"It's like Christy Dignam would say - crazy world! She has her head in the game, we have our heads all over the news!"
