Four more Team Ireland boxers have won through to the medal stages of the 2026 European U19 Championship in Loznica, Serbia.
Team Ireland’s Jason Donoghue has his eyes firmly set on the prize, after defeating a reigning European champion in the Last 16 of the European U19 Championships. The 65kg Olympic BC Mullingar boxer contested against Hungary’s Istvan Czifra. Jason is back in action, and boxing for a medal, on Tuesday, taking on the winner of today’s meeting of Turkey and Bulgaria. Speaking after his bout, Jason said “I’m very delighted. I boxed a European Champion today. He was very good. He won the weight above me (in the 2025 European U17 Championships). I was at 60kg I won bronze, he won gold. Today was a challenge coming in to this fight because I know I had to turn up. But we had a good game plan to walk him back. It work out for it. It worked very well. On to the next fight when I’m fighting for a medal. Let’s go ge the bronze medal”
Jason’s brother, John has won through to the 70kg European U19 Championships. He contested his Last 16 contest against Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Rejjan Jakupovic and had the upperhand throughout, recording a unanimous decision win on a scoreline of 30:27; 30:27; 30:26; 30:27; 30:26. The Olympic BC Mullingar boxer is back in the ring on Tuesday, boxing for a medal.
Co-Captain Kalib Walshe was the RSC2 winner over Tarik Huric of Bosnia & Herzegovina following a series of standing counts. Kalib, of Wexford CBS, boxes for a medal on Tuesday against Urkrain’s Artur Pichka.
75kg Jason Whelan has also won his second European U19 Championship bout, and booked his place in the QFs. He contested his Last 16 contest against Georgia’s Goga Bregvadze, forcing standing counts for his opponent in the second and third rounds and was awarded a 3-2 win, on a scoreline of 29:27; 27:29; 27:29; 29:27, 28:28. Jason, of Dublin Docklands BC, is back between the ropes on Tuesday, when he boxes for a medal against Russia’s Kirill Shinkar.
Lee Largey Snoddon exits the European U19 Championships after a competitive Last 16 performance. The 55kg Immaculata BC boxer took on England’s Rueben Huczmann, and the 5-0 decision was awarded against him, scored 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30. Lee can be rightfully be proud of his European journey.
354 boxers from 36 nations are competing in Loznica, Serbia. The participating nations are: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine.
The complete Men’s Draw is available HERE and the complete Women’s Draw is available HERE
Team Ireland is led and managed by Jennifer O’Sullivan-Coffey of Sliabh Luachra and Bernie Curran of St. John Bosco, Newry. The team is coached by Eoin Pluck, Val Hamilton of St. Francis BC, Ralph McKay of St. Paul’s BC Antrim, Sean Crowley of Erne BC. The R&J is Stephen Kelly.
Day Five
5 Team Ireland boxers are between the ropes in Loznica on Monday – and 3 are boxing for medals.
First up, and making her tournament debut, is 54kg Carley O’Herron. She takes on Jelizaveta Jakimova of Lithuania. That’s in Bout 4 of Ring A’s Afternoon Session. Four bouts later, in the same ring and session, Leah Moore contests her 57kg Last 16 bout against Dimitra Kapsimali of Greece.
70kg Kaysie Joyce boxers her quarter final against England’s Shannon Warren in Bout 9 of Ring B’s Afternoon Session.
In Ring A’s Evening Session, 48kg Louise Joyce boxes for a medal against Romania’s Selin Ibram. That’s in Bout 2. Five contests later, in Bout 7, 65kg Grace Bailey is also vying for a place on the podium. She takes on England’s Rihanna Holden.
Watch
The Serbia Boxing Federation is live-streaming the championships on its YouTube channel, here. Links, per ring, are published on the day of boxing.
Competition Schedule
Boxing will take place, daily, from August 12th to 18th. August 19th is a rest day – all semi finals will be boxed on Thursday, August 20th. All finals will take place on Friday, August 21st.
Afternoon Sessions will begin at 1pm, Irish time, while Evening Sessions will start at 4:30pm with the exception of the second Finals session on August 21st, which will get underway at 7pm.
Team Ireland
48kg Louise Joyce, Olympic BC Mullingar
50kg Kristian Jubani, Crumlin BC, Dublin
51kg Kayleigh Byrne, Gorey BC, Wexford
54kg Carly O’ Herron, Rochfortbridge BC, Westmeath
55kg Lee Largey Snoddon, Immaculata BC, Belfast
57kg Leah Moore, Cabra BC, Dublin
60kg Kalib Walshe, CBS Wexford
65kg Grace Bailey, Castlebar BC, Mayo
65kg Jason Donoghue, Olympic BC Mullingar
70kg John Donoghue, Olympic BC Mullingar
70kg Kaysie Joyce, Clonmel BC, Tipperary
75kg Jason Whelan, Dublin Docklands
85kg Sean Doohan, Dunfanaghy BC, Donegal
Support Staff
Team Managers: Jennifer O’Sullivan-Coffey of Sliabh Luachra and Bernie Curran of St. John Bosco, Newry.
Coaches: Eoin Pluck, Val Hamilton of St. Francis BC, Ralph McKay of St. Paul’s BC Antrim, Sean Crowley of Erne BC.
R&J Stephen Kelly