Commonwealth Games: Defending pommel horse champion McClenaghan impresses in qualifying
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Rhys McClenaghan looked set to miss the defence of his Commonwealth Games title before being cleared to compete in Birmingham
Northern Ireland's defending Commonwealth Games pommel horse champion Rhys McClenaghan progressed to Monday's final after impressing in qualifying.
McClenaghan scored 14.350 in a superb routine with team-mate Eamon Montgomery also qualifying for the floor final.
However, Belfast boxer JP Hale exited after losing his opening bout.
Light welterweight Hale, from the Star ABC club, was beaten on a 3-2 decision by Ugandan Joshua Tukamuhemba.
The Ugandan looked unfortunate to lose the first round on four of the five judges cards but earned a 3-2 verdict in round two, before dominating the closing three minutes of the last-32 contest.
Tukamuhemba floored Hale in the third round with a big right only for it deemed a slip by the Northern Irishman but the final judges' verdict did look to be the correct decision.
Featherweight Jude Gallagher will be the next Northern Ireland boxer in action on Saturday evening when he faces Swaziland's Zweli Comfort in a last-32 bout.
Northern Ireland's first boxing hopeful in Birmingham JP Hale was beaten by impressive Ugandan Joshua Tukamuhebwa
Gymnast McClenaghan opened the defence of his pommel horse title by producing a flawless routine which left him as second qualifier behind England's Joe Fraser.
Team-mate Montgomery also reached the final of the floor event in second spot having scored 13.750 which left him second behind England's Gianni Regini-Moran.
Ewan McAteer's score of 13.950 left him as sixth-placed qualifier for the men's vault final.
NI gymnasts initially banned from Games
The trio were initially barred by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) from competing in Birmingham because they have represented Ireland in international competition.
That decision was later overturned with FIG granting special dispensation for the three gymnasts to compete for Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland's James Edgar finished 16th in the men's triathlon - two minutes and 26 seconds behind England's winner Alex Yee, who was 13 seconds clear of New Zealand's Hayden Wilde with Australia's Matthew Hauser a further three seconds back in third spot.
In bowls, Northern Ireland's men's triples team lie second in their group with leaders Fiji to play after beating Norfolk Island 24-10 and drawing 15-15 with Wales.
The Northern Ireland's women's four beat Malaysia 13-10 to guarantee themselves a quarter-finals slot but Shauna O'Neill lost her singles opener 21-14 against Scotland's Dee Hoggan.
The netball team fell to a heavy 79-20 defeat by the world's second-ranked side New Zealand.
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