Team NI bronze medal joy 'means everything' after quickfire Commonwealth Games boost thanks to Shauna O'Neill, Chloe Wilson and Gary Kelly

​O’Neill and Chloe Wilson combined for women’s pairs glory to increase the weekend medal return by para swimmers Barry McClements (silver) and Bethany Firth (bronze).

With the smiles still in place, the Team NI bowlers had a second medal to celebrate soon after thanks to Gary Kelly winning bronze across the men’s singles – securing two honours in quick succession and bringing the nation’s full haul to four.

“To win a medal means everything, that is what we came here to do,” said O’Neill. “It mightn’t be the colour we wanted but we have fought really hard for this and we are really proud of our efforts.

“The semi-final was pure heartbreak (Monday night’s loss)...we just went to the hotel, regrouped and started again this morning.

“The way I said it to Chloe is this is our last pairs match together and we just wanted to make sure we went out and enjoyed it and leave the Commonwealth Games on a high...we are just really happy to get over the line.”

Wilson highlighted a bond developed over past competitions together, including time spent living together in Australia for the World Championships.

“I think that is what makes it even sweeter...that we have done it together,” she said. “It means an awful lot to both of us, so just really proud.”

Kelly’s bronze followed up the silver won four years ago at the Birmingham event.

“Obviously it wasn't the ultimate outcome...I'm very grateful and very thankful to come home with a medal for Team Northern Ireland,” said the Ballymoney bowler now based in Australia, who won every group game before a semi-final setback. “It's cut-throat, that's sport, that's competition...I just had to focus on me again and getting the best outcome for my country.

"And the best outcome I could achieve today was a bronze medal and, thankfully, I did that.

“I knew it was going to be a big challenge, but it was one that I believed I could get...the outcome that I wanted.”

Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen will bid on Wednesday to close out his Commonwealth Games with a medal final flourish following back-to-back disappointments for Team NI.

The Magheralin swimmer arrived in Glasgow tipped for success but followed up last week’s fifth across the men’s 400m freestyle final with a fourth on Monday night in the men’s 800m freestyle showdown.

Now, having admitted in his post-race interview on Monday how “I felt bit off”, the Magheralin athlete turns to the men’s 1500m freestyle final.

"To be honest, I felt a bit off when I dived in...I was just trying to hold on and then it was too late by the time I actually started to feel good,” said Wiffen on TNT Sports. "I can’t really complain, I got fourth...see what happens in the 1500m on Wednesday.

"I just hope I feel a bit better than that and then I’ll be golden...we’ll see what happens in the 1500 and see if we can get after it.”

Wiffen won 800m freestyle gold and a bronze within the 1500m across the 2024 Olympics Games in Paris.

He secured silver at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 at Birmingham over the men’s 1500m freestyle.

Team NI, however, stand guaranteed of bronze in the boxing ring thanks to progress into the semi-finals by both Kaci Rock and Garyn McAlliser.

With two bronze medals awarded to boxers across the last four missing out on silver or gold, it will add to a Team NI medal tally now sitting at four following podium appearances by yesterday afternoon for Barry McClements (para swimming, silver), Bethany Firth (para swimming, bronze), Shauna O’Neill/Chloe Wilson (bowls, bronze) and Gary Kelly (bowls, bronze).

Rock dominated her women’s 65kg bout, with Team Niue’s Karen Te Ruki Pasene having three standing eight counts on the way to a Northern Ireland unanimous points victory.

McAllister’s slick footwork and strong hand speed helped him over by 5-0 past Team Ghana’s Jibril Muntari for a spot in Friday’s semi-finals.

Boxer Nicole Clyde lost her women’s 54kg quarter-final to Team India’s Preeti Preeti.

Tuesday’s schedule featured Team NI morning and afternoon progress in the water for swimmers.

That evening, Danielle Hill’s final resulted in fourth across the women’s 50m freestyle final.

Grace Davison just missed out on a place in the women’s 50m freestyle final off fifth within the semi-finals.

In the men’s 50m butterfly, Matthew Hamilton was eighth over his semi-final.

Lottie Cullen, Adam Bradley, Hamilton and Davison took part in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final, home sixth.

Hannah Crymble recorded a DNF over the women’s 63kg weightlifting final.

Northern Ireland’s netball team suffered a 78-30 loss to South Africa across Pool A.

Ewan McAteer’s tally of 12.750 left him seventh over the men’s vault final.

Anna McCauley and Kate O’Connor on Tuesday launched their women’s heptathlon campaigns.

O’Connor will head into the final three events - long jump, javelin and 800m – on Wednesday leading the full field.