Team Ireland is assured of at least 3 European U19 Championship bronze medals following the first of the quarter finals in Loznica, Serbia today.
48kg Louise Joyce took her frist step on to the podium in dramatic style, being the RSC1 winner over Romania’s Selin Ibram having forced 3 counts in a little over 2 minutes. Louise, of Olympic BC Mullingar, boxes for a medal-upgrade on Thursday. Speaking after her bout, she said “All the way to the top, now. Glad to have that medal but not stopping here – all the way to get that gold. Thanks to all my coaches, and everyone. It wouldn’t be possible without any of you. Thanks to all my family and everyone for watching!”
Co-Captain, Kayleigh Byrne, pulled off a near-impossible win. She was was down both rounds heading in to the third in her 51kg quarter final. She came out for the third with all guns blazing, and forced three standing counts of her opponent, Diana Dudyn of Ukraine, resulting in a RSC3 win. Kayleigh, of Gorey BC, boxes for a medal upgrade on Thursday.
Grace Bailey will come home Serbia with bronze, at minimum. She boxed her 65kg Quarter Final against England’s Rihanna Holden and, decisively, got the win. Speaking after her bout, she said “I don’t even know how to say how I feel. I’m so happy! I just want to thank all the coaches, and also all my coaches back home. Myles and Junior, they do so much for us.” Grace, of Castlebar BC, Mayo, is back between the ropes contesting her semi final on Thursday.
Kaysie Joyce has exited the championships, having boxed a very tough Last 16 contest against England’s Shannon Warren and left it all in the ring. Kaysie’s Championships included a keynote victory over Romania’s Andreea Timeea Tapu.A valiant peformance by TLeah Moore, but not to be in her 57kg Last 16 contest against Dimitra Kapsimali of Greece. Carley O’Herron bows out of the tournament after a brave performance. She contested her 54kg Last 16 contest against Jelizaveta Jakimova of Lithuania. All three boxers can be very proud of their European Championships journeys.
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 Six
Five Team Ireland boxers vie to add to the medal tally on Tuesday.
In Bout 5 of Ring B’s Afternoon Session, European U17 champ, Kristian Jubani, will contest against Azerbaijan’s Ali Aliyev.
70kg John Donoghue boxes for a medal in Bout 10 of Ring A’s Afternoon Session. The World Junior champion and multiple European medalist bozes Czechia’s Jan Sykora for a place on the podium in Loznica.
Jason Whelan, is in action in Bout 12 of Ring B’s Afternoon Session. He boxes for a 75kg medal against Russia’s Kirill Shinakar.
Co-Captain Kalib Walshe opens procedings in Ring B’s Evening Session. He contests his 60kg quarter final against Ukraine’s Artur Pichka
Jason Donoghue, John’s brother, is between the ropes in Bout 3 of Ring A’s Evening Session. He boxes his quarter final against Bahdan Shashlykou of Belarus.
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