Team Ireland’s European U19 Championship medals haul has risen to six, with the completion of all quarter finals.
First up in Loznica was Kristian Jubani, who has today become a three time European medalist, and assured himself of, at least, a bronze medal. He was the 4-1 50kg quarter final winner over Azerbaijan’s Ali Aliyev. Judges scored the bout 30:27; 30:27; 28:39; 29:28, 29:28. Kristian, of Crumlin BC Dublin, boxes his semi final on Thursday. Speaking after his bout, Kristian said “I’m feeling great. I’m delighted with myself. I could have done a bit better in me performance. My tactic was feint a lot because he much taller than me. I had to feint and feint and find me distance, step back, whatever shots came natural. I’m happy with myself. I’m a three time European medalist. I’m in the three minute rounds. Its feels great. I feel very accomplished.”
John Donoghue will also come home from the championships with a bronze medal, at minimum. John, of Olympic BC Mullingar, was scheduled to contest his quarter final against Czechia’s Jan Sykora. His opponent was a late withdrawal this afternoon. John is now through to Thursday’s semi-finals to contest for an up-grade against either Russia or Greece.
Co-Captain Kalib Walshe has also claimed podium finished. He boxed his 60kg quarter final against Artur Pichka of Ukraine, and had the upper hand throughout, forcing a count in the second round – and claiming a unanimous decision win, scored 28:27; 29:26; 29:26; 29:26; 29:26. Kalib, of Wexford CBS, boxes his semi final in two days.
Not to be for Jason Whelan and his namesake, Jason Donoghue. Both boxers left it all in the ring in their respective 75kg and 65kg contests. Whelan, of Dublin Docklands, contested against Kirill Shinakar of Russia in a tough, physical contest coming out the wrong side of a 4-1 split decision scored 28:27; 27: 28; 28:27; 27:28; 28:27. Likewise for Donoghue of Olympic BC Mullingar. He boxed Bahdan Shashlykou of Belarus, and the 3-1 split decision was accorded to his opponent on a scoreline of 28:28; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 29:28. It’s been an excellent tournament for both boxers. Whelan has notched-up wins over Slovakia’s Tomas Kupcik and Georgia’s Goga Bregvadze and Donoghue was the victor over Hungary’s Istvan Czifra and Slovakia’s Sebastian Chocholacek.
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 Seven
Wednesday is a rest day at the tournament, and all semi-finals will be boxed on Thursday, Day Eight.
65kg Grace Bailey also takes on Russian opposition in the form of Bella Zueva in Bout 6 of Ring A’s Afternoon Session. Zueva is a former European Junior champion, and was last year’s Nations Cup and Adriatic Pearl (Youth World Cup) champions.
Multiple European medalist, 48kg Louise Joyce, is first up in Ring B’s Afternoon Session, contesting against Azerbaijan’s Banuchichal Nasirli
Fellow multiple European medalist, 51kg Kayleigh Byrne, is in action in the next bout. She takes on 2025 Europen Junior champ, and World Futures Cup medalist, Andrea Buelga Garcia of Spain.
Now triple European medalist Kristian Jubani opens procedings in Ring A’s Evening Session, contesting against Scotlands Aaron Sarwar. The pair last met at the semi-final stage of June’s Four Nations, where Kristian was the victor.
60kg Kalib Walshe is in action in Bout 3 of the same ring and session, against Italy’s Daniele Fabi. This bout will be a re-run of the 2025 European U17 Championship final, where Fabi came away with gold.
John Donoghue, a World champion and multiple European medalist, contests his 70kg semi final in Bout 5 of Ring B’s Evening Session, taking on Egor Skarednev
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