Longford and Cavan jubilant as Kevin McGahern secures semi-final place with 'perfectly traditional salsa' #DWTSIrl

There was further delight in Longford and Cavan this evening as Kevin McGahern's 'perfectly traditional salsa' ensured that he  progressed to the semi-finals of RTÉ'S Dancing With The Stars. 

Gowna Comedian and actor Kevin McGahern and his professional dance partner Laura Nolan were the second couple to dance tonight.

Their fast paced Salsa was danced to Stay with Me by Calvin Harris feat. Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams and Halsey. 
 
Judge Arthur  Gourounlian told Kevin, “You’ve come a long way from the Viennese Waltz in week one.  I saw you moving your hips.  The lifts are not east to execute.”

Brian Redmond added, “This was a perfectly traditional salsa, a perfect summer vibe.  Laura wants to challenge you.  She loaded the choreography in it, some of the salsa basics were a bit dodgy but It’s the quarter final, Laura had to increase the intensity for it.”

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Head Judge Loraine Barry commented, “The one action you had a lot of was turns – they can get tricky – you did it very well.  Kept rhythm going, hips came out.  A little tip – put more weight onto the balls of your feet, a bit too much in the heels.  Stakes are high, you had to do risky lifts and you pulled it off.”

Scoreboard after individual dances

Brooke Scullion and Robert Rowiński (Judges awarded 28 points)
Kevin McGahern and Laura Nolan (Judges awarded 23 points)
Carl Mullan and Emily Barker (Judges awarded 28 points)
Damian McGinty and Kylee Vincent (Judges awarded 25 points)
Panti Bliss and Denys Samson (Judges awarded 27 points)
Suzanne Jackson and Michael Danilczuk (Judges awarded 30 points)

There were also Team Dances this evening. The 12 dancers were split into two teams of three couples and each team welcomed a former champion to lead them onto the dancefloor. 

Team one was led by team captain Jake Carter and his partner Karen Byrne, winners of the series in 2018. They danced with Panti and Denys, Damian and Kylee and Brooke and Robert.  Their team name was the Handclap Hustlers as they danced to HandClap by Fitz and the Tantrums. The Hand Clap Hustlers were given 27 points from the judges.

The Disco Dazzlers were captained by Lottie Ryan and Stephen Vincent. Lottie won series four when she danced with Pasquale La Rocca.  Crying at the Discotheque by Sophie Ellis-Bextor was the chosen track for them along with Carl and Emily, Kevin and Laura and Suzanne and Michael. The Disco Dazzlers scored 28 points from the judges.

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Despite receiving the lowest points from the judges, Kevin avoided the dreaded dance off.

Panti Bliss and Denys Samson along with Brooke Scullion and Robert Rowinski found themselves with the lowest combined scores so each couple got a second chance to save their place in the competition.

Afterwards he judges decided that it was time for Panti and Denys to leave the competition.

Panti Bliss (aka Rory O' Neill), the sixth celebrity to be voted off the series, said: "I’m very sad and everything, but Brooke is like a niece to me, my best friend, I love her with all my heart.  Denys is everything.  I love this man so much.”

The eliminated couple will be interviewed on The Ryan Tubridy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 tomorrow morning.