Two Team Ireland boxers have won through to the finals of the European U15 Championships, and seven more boxers will seek to follow them on Saturday.
Bobby Boylan up-graded to at least silver. He boxed his 63kg semi final against Armenia’s Babayan Khachik and was the 5-0 winner, scored 29:28; 29:28; 29:28. Bobby, of Edenmore BC Dublin, boxes for gold on Sunday, against Prohors Grisunins of Latvia.
Rian Branagan also has silver, and is a European U15 Championship finalist. He was the unanimous decison winner over Alakbar Mammadli of Azerbaijan in their 44kg semi final, scored 28:29; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 28:29. Rian, of Swords BC, will take on Rodion Kurnisvo of Russia in Sunday’s Afternoon Session.
Four boxers contesting semi finals today will come home with bronze, and invaluable international experience. Aine Marrinan of Nutgrove BC, boxed a highly physical, close quarters semi final against Brogan Darri of England, ending in a 5-0 decison for Darrie. Her European journey has included keynote wins over Anastasiia Frolova of Ukraine and Alannah McGhee of Scotland, in addition to her national title and High Performance training block.
Layla Ayres, of St. Brigid’s Edenderry, boxed her 52kg semi final against Celine Söder of Germany – the unanimous decision went to Söder. Layla’s European journey included a win over Ukraine’s Emiliia Bryzhak.
Gateway BC’s Sophie Willis Potter left it all in the ring in her 70kg semi final against Fatma Beli̇nay Ergi̇n of Turkey; an agonisingly close bout which ended in a 3-2 split decision for Ergin. Superheavy, Cian Leddy, of Olympic BC boxed his Quarter Final against Ukraine’s Davyd Bochkarov, which ended in an RSC1 decision for Bochkarov.
396 boxers are contesting for gold, from 33 national federations: Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and Ukraine.
Team Ireland’s Co-Captains are Pa Casey and Rosaletta Casey. The Vice Co-Captains are Rian Branagan and Sophie Potter. The team is led and and managed by Team Manager Stephen Connolly, Ballymore Hollywood BC, Kildare and Aine McLoughlin, Spartans BC, Cork. The team is coached by Paul Simpson, Saviours Crystal BC, Waterford; John Coffey, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry; Tommy O’Donnell, Charleville BC, Cork; Maria O’Brien, Ballymun BC, Dublin. Marty O’Neill has been appointed R&J.
The complete draw, for all weights, is available here
Competition Schedule
Boxing will take place at the Beşirli Sports Venue, begining on October 18th, with a rest day on October 22nd. All finals and medal ceremonies will take on Monday, October 26th.
Afternoon Sessions will begin at 9am, Irish time, while Evening Sessions start at 1:30pm.
Watch
The Turkish Boxing Federation is live-streaming the tournament on its YouTube channel
Semi Finals, Day Two
7 Team Ireland boxers contest their semi finals on Saturday,
Sophie Cronin is first up. She takes on Turkey’s Hati̇ce Kocabey in a 70kg semi final in Bout 7 of the Afternoon Session. In Bout 7, 42kg Andrew Nugent boxes for an up-grade against Germany’s Kevin Lourenco de Castro. And in Bout 11, reigning champion Pa Casey contests against Ferenc Cellár of Hungary for a place int the 50kg final.
Rosaletta Casey opens proceedings in the Evening Session, boxing for a place in the 46kg finals against Russia’s Valeriia Lazebnykh. Three contests later, Alicia Ennis Light also meets Russian opposition, the form of Kristina Mazurenko in their 54kg semi final. Edward Ward takes on Samuel Smith of England in Bout 9 – that’s a 46kg semi final. In Bout 11, 54kg Martin Nevin boxes his semi against Leonis Pershpalaj
Team Ireland
40kg Aine Marrinan, Nutgrove BC, Dublin
40kg Blake Fegan, Jobstown BC, Dublin
42kg Cara Evans, East Meath BC, Meath
42kg Andrew Nugent, Olympic BG, Galway
44kg Ava Mulhall, Jobstown BC, Dublin
44kg Rian Branagan, Swords BC, Dublin
46kg Rosaletta Casey, Portlaoise BC, Laois
46kg Edward Ward, Olympic BC, Galway
48kg Amy Joyce, Olympic BC Mullingar, Westmeath
48kg Mickey Joe Joyce, Punishers BC, Westmeath
50kg Leah Cairns, Golden Gloves BC, Cork
50kg Pa Casey, Casey’s BC, Kerry
52kg Layla Ayres, St Brigid’s BC Edenderry, Offaly
52kg Yousef Shams, Cherry Orchard BC, Dublin
54kg Alicia Ennis, St. Brigid’s BC Edenderry, Offaly
54kg Martin Nevin, Olympic BC, Galway
57kg Leticija Teinere, Rathkeale BC, Limerick
57kg Seb Mooney, Monkstown BC, Dublin
60kg Paddy Heneghan, Galway BC, Galway
63kg Bobby Boylan, Edenmore BC, Dublin
66kg Leon Cranley, Monkstown BC, Dublin
70kg Sophie Potter, Gateway BC, Sligo
75kg Sophie Cronin, St. Francis BC, Limerick
75kg Romeo Barrett, Titans BC, Galway
90+kg Cian Leddy, Olympic BC, Mullingar, Westmeath
Support Staff
Team Manager Stephen Connolly, Ballymore Hollywood BC, Kildare
Team Manager Aine McLoughlin, Spartans BC, Cork
Coach, Paul Simpson, Saviours Crystal BC, Waterford
Coach, John Coffey, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry
Coach, Tommy O’Donnell, Charleville BC, Cork
Coach, Maria O’Brien, Ballymun BC, Dublin
R&J Marty O’Neill, Drimnagh BC, Dublin