James Donovan and Irish (male) Team Manager Martin Fennessey today
Irish boxing hit the magic 100 mark at the European Schoolboy and Schoolgirl Championships today after James Donovan nailed at least bronze in Albena, Bulgaria.
The Limerick flyweight, who boxes out of the Our Lady of Lourdes BC, showed his class to beat Bulgaria’s Dzhem Demirev on a unanimous decision to book his ticket into the last-four.
Earlier, Dublin’s John Fay guaranteed himself at least bronze after holding his composure and consistently picking off his shots against Mikita Harbuz of Belarus who received a public warning for dropping his head in the second round.
Today’s double, combined with the nine medal the Irish girls team are assured of in Albena, combined with the 89 medals that Ireland has won since the inaugural European Schoolboy Championships in Rome in 2003, takes the all-time total to 100 in 15 years of boxing at this level.
Some of the greats of Irish boxing, including Rio Olympian and three-time European champion Joe Ward and two weight-World pro champion Carl Frampton, contributed to the total with silver medal wins at Portsmouth 2007 and Rome 2003.
IABA President Dominic O’Rourke, Irish team managers Jennifer O’Sullivan and Martin Fennessey and coaches hailed the historic milestone.
Meantime, the search for medal 101 – and more – continues this afternoon with five athletes between the ropes. Boxing begins at 3.30pm (Irish time).
Michael Connors was the first Irish boxer in action today. Connors found the target with enough hooks to suggest that he could have got the decision against Caider Abduraimov but the judges opted for the talented Ukrainian after three close rounds.
European Schoolboy & Schoolgirl Championships Albena, Bulgaria May 21/30
May 25th
Q/Finals
48kg Michael Connors (Ireland) lost Caider Abduraimov (Ukraine) 0-5
50kg James Donovan (Ireland) beat Dzhem Demirev (Bulgaria) 5-0
54kg John Fay (Ireland) beat Mikita Harbuz (Belarus) 5-0
62kg Ryan Murphy (Ireland) v Mykola Serov (Ukraine)
65kg Joe Hutchinson (Ireland) v Irakli Janelidze (Georgia)
72kg Tyler Meade (Ireland) v Milon Tibic (Serbia)
76kg Curtis Darcy (Ireland) v Malyas Nagyos (Romania)
80kg Patrick McDonagh (Ireland) v Oleg Ilchenko (Ukraine)
May 24th
Last 16
38.5kg Martin Collins (Ireland) beat Anton Salika (Belarus) 3-2
40kg Michael Faulkner (Ireland) beat Gocha Gordulava (Georgia) 5-0
44.5kg Conor Donovan (Ireland) lost to Dominik Mucska (Hungary) 2-3
68kg Feidhlim Behan (Ireland) lost to Tymofii Krupko (Ukraine) 1-4
Q/Finals
39kg Sophie Elstone (Ireland) lost to Polina Spirna (Russia) RSC2
42kg Nora Jackman (Ireland) beat Viktoria Danielova (Slovakia) 5-0
45kg Robyn Kelly (Ireland) beat Lyuba Atanasova (Bulgaria) RSC2
48kg Robyn Murran (Ireland) beat Izabella Devenyi (Hungary) 3-2
51kg Labhaoise Glynn (Ireland) lost to Francesca Falconeri (Italy) 0-5
54kg Yasmin Meredith (Ireland) beat Sophia Mazzoni (Italy) RSCI2
57kg Kaci Crowley (Ireland) beat Lucia Simulescu (Romania) 5-0
May 23rd
Last 16
41.5kg William Faulkner (Ireland) beat Georgis Georgantzas (Greece) 5-0
43kg Jason Nevin (Ireland) beat Serghei Nova (Moldova) 5-0
46kg Cale Brennan (Ireland) beat Denys Rosdolskyi (Ukraine) 4-1
52kg Brannon McMahon (Ireland) lost to Volodymyr Kamaieve (Ukraine) 0-5
54kg John Fay (Ireland) beat Dovydas Paskevicius (Lithuania) 5-0
56kg James McGuinness (Ireland) lost to Iskren Mihaylov (Bulgaria) 1-4
59kg Thomas McAleer (Ireland) lost to Savelii Suprunets (Ukraine) 0-5
Q/Final
91kg Martin McDonagh (Ireland) lost to Kyrylo Novika (Ukraine) 0-5
May 22nd
Last 16
60kg Laura Moran (Ireland) lost to Abby Briggs (England) 2-3
48kg Michael Connors (Ireland) beat Nedas Grigorianas (Lithuania) 3-2
50kg James Donovan (Ireland) beat Krisztian Balagh (Hungary) 4-0
May 26th
Q/Finals
38.5kg Martin Collins (Ireland) v Anton Avdienko (Russia)
40kg Michael Faulkner (Ireland) v Olek Levchenko (Ukraine)
41.5kg William Faulkner (Ireland) v Bogdan Priima (Russia)
43kg Jason Nevin (Ireland) v Shane Paterson (England)
46kg Cale Brennan (Ireland) v Indir Vracic (Serbia)
S/Finals
36kg Katie O’Keeffe (Ireland) v Renata Mingalimova (Russia)
42kg Nora Jackman (Ireland) v Daria Kostkinia (Russia)
45kg Robyn Kelly (Ireland) v Alena Tremasova (Russia)
48kg Robyn Murran (Ireland) v Charan Dhesi (England)
54kg Yasmin Meredith (Ireland) v Maria Mica (Romania)
57kg Kaci Crowley (Ireland) v Rosalia Cataldo (Italy)
63kg Winne Christina McDonagh (Ireland) v Sunniva Hofstad (Norway)
67kg Dearbhla Tinnelly (Ireland) v Alena Krinichnaia (Russia)
70kg Nasya McJin-Igelige (Ireland) v Karine Araptican (Ukraine)
May 28th
S/Finals
50kg James Donovan (Ireland) v Alfredo Simone (Italy)
54kg John Fay (Ireland) v Matthew Knipe (England)
Irish squad
Boys
38.5kg Martin Collins (Drimnagh)
40kg Michael Faulkner (Northside)
41.5kg William Faulkner (Rathkeale)
43kg Jason Nevin (Olympic Mullingar)
44.5kg Conor Donovan (Clonmel)
46kg Cale Brennan (St Michaels Athy) Cpt
48kg Michael Connors (St Marys Dublin)
50kg James Donovan (O.L.O.L.) (Bronze, at least)
52kg Brannon McMahon (Carrickmore)
54kg John Fay (Swords) (Bronze, at least)
56kg James McGuinness (St Monics)
59kg Thomas McAleer (Swords)
62kg Ryan Murphy (Neilstown)
65kg Joe Hutchinson (Neilstown)
68kg Feidhlim Behan (Kilcullen)
72kg Tyler Meade (Kilnamanagh)
76kg Curtis Darcy (Callan)
80kg Patrick McDonagh (St Josephs)
91kg Martin McDonagh (Ballyhaunis)
Girls
36kg Katie O’Keeffe (Kanturk) (Bronze, at least)
39kg Sophia Elstone (Ardnaree)
42kg Nora Jackman (Paulstown) (Bronze,at least)
45kg Robyn Kelly (Ballynacargy) Cpt (Bronze, at least)
48kg Robyn Murran (St Brigids Kildare) (Bronze, at least)
51kg Labhaoise Glynn (Cloghan)
54kg Yasmin Meredith (Glasnevin) (Bronze, at least)
57kg Kaci Crowley (Erne) (Bronze, at least)
60kg Laura Moran (St Annes)
63kg Winne Christina McDonagh (Neilstown) (Bronze, at least)
67kg Dearbhla Tinnelly (Clann Naofa) (Bronze, at least)
70kg Nasya McJin-Igelige (Clann Naofa) (Bronze, at least)
IABA President: Dominic O’Rouke
Team Managers: Martin Fennessey and Jennifer O’Sullivan
Coaches: Liam Brereton, Jim O’Neill, Eva Carr, John Gallagher, Tom Hayes
R&J: Brian Wallace