Northern Ireland's Michaela Walsh believes she was "cheated" out of a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games after losing out to Olympic champion Nicola Adams in the final of the women's flyweight division.

The 20-year-old from Belfast, a three-time Irish national champion already, lost out on a split decision to Adams following a close, scrappy contest and was unable to hide her bitter disappointment in an emotional ringside interview.

“It was a close fight, but I wanted it that wee bit more,” Walsh told the BBC. “I know in my heart I won the fight, I wanted it more . . . I feel as if I’ve been cheated off the gold medal.

“It’s not her (Adams) fault, obviously if it was a close fight against the Olympic champion they’re going to give it to her. I know myself I won the fight, I’d just like to say well done to Nicola.”

Walsh was never overawed in the contest, content to trade blows with a fighter 11 years her senior, but in a fight where both fighter’s counter-attacking styles largely cancelled each other out Adams landed the cleaner shots.

Walsh went into the fight convinced of her ability to cause an upset and started well as she snaked home a right hand in the opening seconds. But Adams stepped up a gear, landing a left and right combination which wobbled Walsh, and following up with a sharp right hand as she pursued the Northern Ireland fighter around the ring.

Adams was able to keep Walsh at bay in the second round and put in the more eye-catching work but after a tangle sent the pair rolling on the floor early in the third, Walsh had some success with her left.

At the end of a more competitive fourth both fighters raised their arms in triumph, but with two judges scoring the contest a tie, the third ruled in favour of Adams.