The This-Is-Slowly-Turning-Into-A-Boxing-Column Blog - Irish at the Olympics: Day 11

The sport of boxing has its detractors, and indeed a sizeable opposition who believe it to be morally wrong. This isn't the place for the debate - though if anyone wants to bring it up in the comments, I will systematically humiliate them. In any case, one wouldn't expect anyone in Ireland would take an anti-boxing stance right now. Tonight, Michael Conlon (left, with new BFF Novak Djokovic) has an opportunity to seal a medal for himself in a quarter final against Nordine Oubaali of France. It is also an opportunity to put a silver lining on today, as it's been a big dirty cloud for the nation thus far.

Paul Hession was below his best in crashing out in the heats of the men's 200m, while even a personal best for Fionnuala Britton was a long way off the time required for a spot in the final of the women's 5000m. Derval O'Rourke, meanwhile, was eliminated from the 100m hurdles after finishing 5th in her semi just a few minutes ago, another 12.91 performance for the Cork woman.

The disappointment continued off dry land, as Ger Owens and Scott Flanigan concluded their spirited efforts at disproving global warming by proving that things can still move at glacial speed. That is, thankfully, the last time we will see them in action and their relatives and friends will be hoping that they treat themselves to a plane journey home rather than sailing back, as it's always nice to spend Christmas with family.

The biggest achievement from an Irish perspective came in the triathlon, as Gavin Noble (right) made a mockery of his world ranking of 44th to finish 21 places higher in the field. To say the success story of the day came in the shape of a 23rd place sounds like clutching at straws, but straw-clutching is sort of the name of the game by now.

Straw-clutching and face-punching, then, from here on out. I'll cover the former - let's hope over the next 24 hours Conlon, Barnes and Taylor can excel at the latter.