Four Team Ireland boxers will contest Sunday’s European U15 Championship finals in Trabzon, Turkey, following the completion of the second day of semi finals.
Reigning champion, Pa Casey, will defend his European U15 Championship title, having been the unanimoous decision winner in his 50kg semi final against Ferenc Cellár of Hungary in an utterly dominant performance scored 25:30; 26:30; 26:30; 26:30; 26:30. Pa is back in action in Sunday’s Evening Session, boxing for gold against the winner of the bout now underway between Russia and Turkey.
And Martin Nevin has won through to the finals in emphatic style. He was the RSC3 winner over Leonis Pershpalaj of Albania in their 54kg final. Martin, of Olympic BC Galway, is back in action in Sunday’s Evening Session, boxing for gold against Jay Sheridan of Scotland.
Pa and Martin join 44kg Rian Branagan and 63kg Bobby Boylan in Sunday’s finals.
Sophie Cronin comes home with bronze. Sophie, of St. Francis BC, Limerick, took on home boxer, Turkey’s Hati̇ce Kocabey in their 70kg semi final, the 4-1 split decision win went to Kocabey, scored 28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 29:28; 28:29. Sophie’s European journey has included a win over Croatia’s Tea Farkaš.
Andrew Nugent also brings home bronze. Andrew, of Olympic BC Galway, contested his 42kg semi final Germany’s Kevin Lourenco de Castro. The 4-1 split decision went to the German boxer and judges scored the bout 29:28; 29:28; 29:28; 29:29; 28:29. Andrew’s European journey has inclued wins over Zsombor Vajmi of Hungary and Carlo Gabriel Italy’s Carbaruso.
Rosaletta Casey will come home Trabazon with bronze. The now two-time European medalist of Portlaoise BC contested her 46kg semi final against Russia’s Valeriia Lazebnykh, with the UD going to the Russian boxer on a scoreline of 28:29; 28:29; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30. Rosaletta’s European journey has included a win over Poland’s Alicja Łaniecka.
Also a bronze medalist is Alicia Ennis Light. Alicia, of St. Brigid’s BC Edenderry, took on Kristina Mazurenko of Russia in their 54kg semi final – the unanimous decision went to Mazurenko. The bout was scored 30: 27; 30:27; 30:27; 30:27; 30:27. Alicia’s European journey has included victory over Georgia’s Barbare Tchitashvili.
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 Sunday, October 25th.
As the clock changes in Ireland overnight in to Sunday morning and does not change in Turkey, the Afternoon Sessions will begin at 8am, Irish time, while Evening Sessions start at 12:30pm.
Watch
The Turkish Boxing Federation is live-streaming the tournament on its YouTube channel
Finals
Team Ireland’s Rian Branagan boxes the first of the day’s finals. He takes on Rodion Kurnisvo of Russia in the 44kg decided in Bout 10 of the Afternoon Session.
And Bobby Boylan is between the ropes in Bout 14 of the same session, boxing for gold against Prohors Grisunins of Latvia.
Pa Casey will defend his 50kg title in Bout 11 of the Evening Session, Batraz Bitsoev of Russia. In the subsequent bout, Martin Nevin boxes his 54kg final against Scotland’s Jay Sheridan.
40kg Aine Marrinan, 42kg Andrew Nugent, 46kg Rosaletta Casey, 46kg Edward Ward, 52kg Layla Ayres, 54kg Alicia Ennis, 70kg Sophie Potter, 75kg Sophie Cronin and 90+kg Cian Leddy will be awarded their bronze medals.
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