Taylor Advances to Semi Final but Smith an O'Neill Bow Out

Katie Taylor is through to the semi-finals of the European Women's Championships following a comprehensive victory over Ayzanat Hajiyeva of Azerbaijan in Rotterdam.

The Irish lightweight, who was 13-3 up going into the fourth and final round, earned a 17-4 win to claim her third victory in three days at the Championships.

She'll now meet Sweden's Helena Falk in Friday's semi-final.

The Taylor/Falk bout is a repeat of the 60Kg clash which Taylor won on a unanimous decision in her hometown of Bray last August.

Taylor, who is guaranteed at least bronze following today's win, is aiming for five European gold medals in-a-row in Rotterdam.

Meanwhile, Ceire Smith lost out in her quest to reach the semi-finals this morning following a 24-9 defeat to Poland's Sandra Drabik in the bantamweight division.

The first round finished 3-2 in Drabik's favour, but the Pole, who claimed silver at the 2011 European Union Championships, pulled away in the final three rounds.

Kilkenny light-heavyweight Lauragh O'Neill also produced a brave performance but bowed out following a 16-7 loss to Tinea Naga in a repeat of the 2011 European Union semi-final which the Hungarian won 26-10.

Thursday is a rest day at the Championships. The semi-finals and finals will be held on Friday and Saturday.