Three Team Ireland boxers have won through to the European U19 Championship Finals.
Now triple European medalist Kristian Jubani was the 4-1 winner over Scotlands Aaron Sarwar in the 50kg semi final. Judges scored the bout 29:28; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30. The pair last met at the semi-final stage of June’s Four Nations, where Kristian was the victor.
Louise Joyce has won through to the 48kg finals following a tempestuous semi final against Azerbaijan’s Banuchichal Nasirli. Louise won by 4-1 split decision following a 3rd round point deduction. Judges scored the bout 28:27; 28:27; 27:28; 28:27; 28:27.
Her Olympic BC clubmate, John Donoghue is assured of at least a silver medal. He was the 4-1 split decision winner over Russia’s Egor Skarednev in the 70kg semi final, scored 29:28; 29:28; 28:29; 29:28; 29:28. John, a World and European medalist of Olympic BC, boxes his final tomorrow.
Coming home with bronze is Co-Captain Kayleigh Byrne. She contested a very close, physical semi final against Spain’s Andrea Buelga Garcia of Spain, a fellow European Junior champion and World Futures Cup medalist. The 3-2 decision was scored 29:28; 30:27; 28:29; 28:29; 27:30. Kayleigh, of Gorey BC Wexford, can be enormously proud of her European U19 journey, which has included wins over Diana Dudyn of Ukraine and Turkey’s Kubra Cicek.
Co-Captain Kalib Walshe will come home with bronze. He renewed rivalries with Italy’s Daniele Fabi in the 60kg semi final. This bout was a re-run of the 2025 European U17 Championship final, where Fabi came away with gold. Today’s 4-1 decision also went to Fabi on a scoreline of 29:28; 28:29; 29:27; 30:27; 30:27– although Kalib, of Wexford CBS, should be immensely proud of his European U19 Championships journey. It has included wins over Artur Pichka of Ukraine, Tarik Huric of Bosnia & Herzegovina and Israel’s Ilai Avraham.
Grace Bailey will come home with 65kg bronze. She boxed a valiant fight during her semi final against Russia’s Bella Zueva – a former European Junior champion, and last year’s Nations Cup and Adriatic Pearl (Youth World Cup) champion. Grace was retired by coaches before the third round. Grace, of Castlebar BC Mayo, has secured keynote wins in this championship, including over Italy’s Swami Ferdinandi and England’s Rihanna Holden.
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.
The semi-finals photo gallery is available here
Finals
Louise, Kristian and John will all contest for gold on Friday.
Two time European medalist, Louise Joyce will box the first final of these championships, for 48kg gold against England’s Lilly Bassett in the opening bout of the Afternoon Session. Lily is a World Futures Cup champion, a two time European champion, and a 2023 European medalist. Louise and Lily last met at the semi-final stage of June’s Four Nations, where the decision went to Lily
Triple European medalist, 50kg Kristian Jubani, boxes his final against Georgia’s Shavla Beridze in Bout 9 of the same session. Shavla is, himself, a two time European medalist.
World and multiple European medalist, John Donoghue, opens procedings in the Evening Session. He takes on Georgia’s Akaki Basaria in the hunt for 70kg gold. Akai is a World bronze medalist, and multiple European medalist.
The finals Afternoon Session begins at 1pm, and the Evening Session gets underway at 7pm. Medal ceremonies will take place in both sessions.
51kg Kayliegh Byrne, 60kg Kalib Walshe and 65kg Grace Bailey are all expected to receive their bronze medals during the Afternoon Session.
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.
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