Aoife O’Rourke bowed out of the European Olympic qualification tournament after a unanimous semi-final defeat to Britain’s Lauren Price.
World champion Price showed excellent defensive work and had the bout won in the second round have scored 10-9 victories across the board in the opening two rounds.
While it was defeat for the Castlerea woman it was a good performance particularly in the third round as O’Rourke chased Price from the bell.
O’Rourke’s style played against her in the opening round as the quick foot work and counter attacking style of Price saw the European champion caught out with all five judges giving the Britain the nod 10-9.
While O’Rourke tried to enforce her traditional style in the second round, Price was more eye catching from her defence, applying some good counters.
O’Rourke landed a number of good glance shots in the second and a very impressive upper cut to body mid-way through the second.
Again the judges scored the round 10-9 across the board with Price displaying better tactics and a stronger defence.
O’Rourke however wouldn’t let up against the World champion in the final round and produced a good powerful round, rattling Price with a number of body shots.
Price however was able to land the jab, her defensive stance edging O’Rourke forward for the counter and the judges gave the final round to the Britain.
All five judges scored the bout 30-27 across the board, as Price progresses to the final and O’Rourke settles for bronze and most importantly a place in this summer’s olympic games.
