DAMAEN KELLY is set to return to Belfast with nothing to show for his Olympic challenge except the experience gained from three hard flyweight contests.

Kelly's hopes of a place in the semifinals perished in a 13-6 points defeat by the number one flyweight in the world, Bulat Dzumadilov. If one could quibble with the margin of victory, there wasn't doubt that the decision was the correct one.

Even the spur of a place in the last and a bronze medal couldn't lift the man in the task of avenging an earlier defeat by the accomplished Dzumadilov.

But on that occasion Kelly was coming back after a hand injury, now he was in best condition of his career but the result stayed the same.

The five judges - from Germany, the Dominican Republic, New Zealand, Egypt and Japan - scored it 2-2 after the first round and 8-5 for Dzumadilov at the end of the second. Barring a recovery of significant dimensions the consensus at that stage was that the Irishman was already on his way out.

Whatever slim chance he had evaporated after just 90 seconds of the final round when he was publicly warned and penalised two points by the Cuban referee, Alfredo Toledo, for careless use of his head - a harsh penalty in a contest in which the man in charge had relatively little to do.

Kelly had fought well and protected his damaged eye so skillfully that the cut on his eyelid didn't reopen, but overall, it was Dzumadilov, a quick accurate puncher with a lot of experience behind him, who generally dictated the rate of scoring.

"I think I boxed as well as I could have done on the night, but it still wasn't enough," said Kelly, who sported scars both above and below his right eye. "He was much improved from the first time I met him and, on a couple of occasions, he hurt me with single shots.

"I thought I had him in trouble momentarily towards the end of the first round, but unfortunately, he was far too clever and too fast on his feet to be nailed a second time."

On the public warning, Kelly said: "I thought it was harsh. When he stopped us I wasn't sure whether he was going to warn me or my opponent and I was shocked when he pointed his finger in my direction.

"I had been cautioned in the first round but the rules say that you have to receive two cautions before a public warning. That most certainly was not the case here."

Kelly succeeded in attracting his opponent onto the punch from the start and his fight plan succeeded for much of the first round. Dzumadilov was hitting nothing more substantial than thin air as Kelly ducked and weaved and stayed out of range.

The Irishman wasn't always accurate with the counter punch, but he still managed to score the first point of the contest when he caught up with Dzumadilov on the ropes.

The Kazakstan boxer, bringing his right hand over the top, soon levelled, but it was Kelly who again edged in front when he slipped inside a jab to score with a left hook.

That was promising, but then, before the round ended, he was caught as he came forward, stopping a crisp left hand punch with his head.

It stayed level for the early part of the second round, with Kelly responding to two solid right hand punches by first landing a left hook and then trapping his man with a jab. That was encouraging, but soon afterwards the contest began to slip away from him. A cluster of punches in one exchange increased Dzumadilov's lead to 6-4. A text book left jab stretched it still forward and, while Kelly got one back, the margin stood at 8-5 when the bell went to end the round.

From there on Kelly was living on borrowed time and, with the imposition of the two point penalty for the warning, will hope had been lost. A section of the crowd boohed, as is their wont when a decision goes against either an American or an Irish boxer, but one senses there was more a gesture of appreciation for Kelly's performance than a commentary on the result.

Among the more interested spectators was Wayne McCullough, a silver medallist in the bantamweight division at Barcelona four years ago, who flew in from Las Vegas earlier in the day to lend his support to his fellow Belfastman.

McCullagh, who is preparing for a title defence against in September, concurred with the verdict, but echoed the feelings of many when he said that the 13-6 margin did not reflect the way the fight had gone.

It was the end of the line for Irish boxers, but while they returned with no Olympic medal to show for their efforts, they acquitted themselves with some distinction in a championship which remains as competitive as ever.

Cathal O'Grady was the unlucky member of the quartet when, after being brought into the squad at a relatively late stage, had the misfortune to meet a big puncher in the first series and was stopped in the first round.

Francis Barrett will have pleasant memories of his first round win over the Brazillian, Zely Ferreria, but overall the honours went to the two Belfastmen, Kelly and Brian Magee.