MIXED FORTUNES FOR IRELAND IN SPAIN

 

 

IRELAND will be bringing home at least two bronze medals from the EU Men’s Elite Championships in Valladolid, Spain.

Antrim’s bantamweight Kurt Walker joined Galway’s Kieran Molloy in Saturday’s semi-finals after a classy performance against Poland’s Jaroslav Iwanow today.

But Laois middle Michael Nevin was desperately unlucky to lose out versus England’s Carl Fail after a cut over his right eye forced him to retire late in the second round.

Walker was on top in all three rounds en route to a comprehensive unanimous decision – with four 10-8 rounds thrown into the bargain.

Iwanow, durable throughout, was on the floor from a short hook in the second, but that was ruled a slip. “I’m very happy.Just working on different stuff. felt good in both my fights, said Walker.

“The next fella has a different style, so I’ll have to sit down with the coaches and work out a plan for him.”

Nevin boxed superbly in the first round. His backhand was finding the target in the second but the ringside doctor called a halt after the Portlaoise BC man picked up what Irish coach John Conlan, who is working Ireland’s corner with Eoin Pluck, described as a nasty cut.

Fail was ahead on points at the time of the stoppage.

“Kurt won 5-0, very dominant. Michael gave it everything. So gutted for this extremely talented boxer,” said Irish team manager Stephen Molloy.

Walker meets Georgia’s Artyush Gomtsyun in the semi-finals on Saturday while Molloy faces England’s Pat McCormack. Friday is a rest day at the tournament.

Image: Kurt Walker and John Conlan today

 

EU Elite Championships Valladolid, Spain

November 9

Prelims (Last 16)

52kg Conor Quinn (Ireland) lost to Rosenov Banbakov (Bulgaria) 1-4
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Stefan Ivanov (Bulgaria) 5-0
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) lost to Frazer Clarke (England) 1-4

November 10

Prelims (last 16)

69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Ruben Veciunoa (Belgium) 5-0
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) beat David Michalek (Slovakia) 4-1

November 11th

Prelims (last 16)

64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Petr Novak (Czech Republic) 5-0

November 12

Prelims (last 16)

75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) beat Stepan Nikitin (Germany) 5-0

November 13

Q/Finals

64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) lost to Dmitry Galogot (Moldova) 0-5
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Vincenzo Arecchiai (Italy) 3-1

November 14

Q/Finals

91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) lost to Toni Filipi (Croatia) 0-5

November 15

Q/Finals

56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Jaroslav Iwanow (Poland) 5-0
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) lost to Carl Fail (England) RSCI2

November 17

S/Finals

56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Artyush Gomtsyun (Georgia)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) V Pat McCormack (England)

Irish squad

52kg Conor Quinn (Clonard BC)

56kg Kurt Walker (Canal BC) (Bronze, at least)

64kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise BC)

69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard BC) (Bronze, at least)

75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise BC)

91kg Kirill Afanasev (Smithfield BC)

91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Clonmel BC) Cpt

Team Manager: Stephen Molloy

Coaches: John Conlan & Eoin Pluck

Physiotherapist: Seamus Caffrey

Team Doctor: Jim Clover- Team Doctor

Sports Physiologist: Damian Martin

Referee & Judge: Jim Murrin- R&J