Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan win European medals

Belfast boxers Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlan were among four Irish fighters to clinch medals at the European Amateur Championships on Wednesday.

Barnes progressed to the semi-finals of the light-fly division as he edged out Hungary's Istvan Ungvari on points.

Michael Conlan is also guaranteed at least a flyweight bronze after a second-round stoppage of Belarus's Siarhei Loban of Belarus.

But another Belfast man Tommy McCarthy was beaten in the light-heavy division.

Olympic bantamweight silver medallist John Joe Nevin and Donegal middleweight Jason Quigley joined Barnes and Conlan in guaranteeing themselves at least a bronze medal from the championships in Belarus.

Twice Olympic light-fly bronze medallist Barnes had a 29-28, 27-30, 29-28 victory over Hungarian Ungvari to set up a semi-final meeting with Azerbaijan's defending champion Salman Alizida on Friday.

Barnes progressed to the semi-finals despite the Argentine judge giving all three rounds to Ungvari.

Conlan produced a dynamic display to completely outclass local favourite Loban to wrap up victory in the second round.

The Olympic bronze medallist will meet Russia's Ovik Ogannisian in Friday's semi-finals.

However, another Belfast man McCarthy was beaten 29-28 29-28 29-28 by number one seed Teymur Mammadou of Azerbaijan at heavyweight.

Nevin was the first Irishman to secure a medal when he defeated Hungarian Krisztian Nagy at bantamweight.

The Mullingar man enjoyed a comfortable 30-24, 30-27, 30-25 victory over his Hungarian opponent and will meet Russia's Nikitin Vladimir in the semi-finals on Friday.

Finn Valley middleweight Quigley defeated Germany's Stefan Hartel 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 in his quarter-final on Wednesday and will take on current world champion Levgen Khytrov of the Ukraine in Friday's semi-finals.

Khytrov missed out on a medal at last year's Olympics after a hugely controversial defeat by Britain's Anthony Ogogo.