Team Ireland’s John Donoghue has been crowned U19 champion of Europe, and Team Ireland as finished third in the medals table, with 1 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze.
England were second place in the 2026 European U19 Championship medals table, and Russia first. Ireland’s 3rd place trophy was presented to Co-Team Manager Jennifer O’Sullivan Coffey and Coach, Val Hamilton
John, a World champion and multiple European medalist of Olympic BC Mullingar, was the RSC2 winner over Georgia’s Akaki Basaria, himself a World bronze medalist, and multiple European medalist.
Speaking after his win, John says his self-belief was the deciding factor “I boxed a good Georgian opponent, he had a good tournament. The difference between me and him in the ring – I got in the ring and believed in myself. His coaches had to tell him that he was going to do it. I stopped him in the second round. That’s the current European champion at 70kg, Last year I boxed at 65kg. It just shows I’m one of the best in the world.”
John began his tournament at Last 32 stage, and also recorded wins over wins over Russia’s Egor Skarednev, Czechia’s Jan Sykora, Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Rejjan Jakupovic and Azerbaijan’s Rza Rzayev.
His Olympic BC Mullingar club mate, Louise Joyce, comes home from Serbia with 48kg silver. Louise, now a double European medalist following on from Schools gold in 2023, contested her final against England’s Lily Basset, with ended in an RSC3 in favour of the English athletes. Louise, of Olympic BC Mullingar, has had a superb Championships, with wins over Azerbaijan’s Banuchichal Nasirli, Romania’s Selin Ibram and Ukraine’s Anastasiia Tiurina.
And Team Ireland’s Kristian Jubani will come home Serbia with 50kg silver. Triple European medalist, Kristian boxed his final against Georgia’s Shavla Beridze Shavla, himself, a two time European medalist. The split decision went to the Georgian boxer. Kristian, of Crumlin BC, has had an excellent Championships, with wins over Scotland’s Aaron Sarwar, Azerbaijan’s Ali Aliyev and Laszlo Papai of Hungary.
Bronze medals were also today bestowed on three Team Ireland boxers. The championships journey of 51kg Kayleigh Byrne of Gorey BC included wins over Diana Dudyn of Ukraine and Turkey’s Kubra Cicek. It’s been a huge day for Kayleigh, who also received her Leaving Cert results!
Grace Bailey has received her 65kg bronze medal. Grace, of Castlebar BC, Mayo, claimed keynote Championship wins over Italy’s Swami Ferdinandi and England’s Rihanna Holden. And 60kg Kalib Walshe was also awarded his medal. He recorded important wins over Artur Pichka of Ukraine, Tarik Huric of Bosnia & Herzegovina and Israel’s Ilai Avraham.
The finals and medal ceremonies gallery is available here
The team land at Dublin Airport on Saturday evening.
354 boxers from 36 nations competed in Loznica, Serbia. The participating nations were: 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.
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.
Congratulations to R&J, Stephen Kelly, who was appointed to officate at these championships.
Stephen has refereed and judged numerous bouts throughout the tournament, most notably, the Women’s 80kg final between Melisa Eroglu of Turkey and Ekaterina Frolova of Russia and Women’s 57kg final between Russia’s Anastasiia Golunova and Jovana Devetakovic of Serbia.
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