Team Ireland will return from the European U17 Championships in Kienbaum, Germany, with 10 medals, 3 of them gold and the Best Male Boxer accolade.
369 boxers contested the tournament from Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, England, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine
Kristian Jubani of Crumlin BC Dublin has been crowned 50kg champion with a 5-0 win over Denis -Aurel Alexandrescu of Romania. Judges scored the bout 27:30; 27:30; 28:29; 27:30; 27:30. Kristian boxed to the top of the podium with wins over Ukraine, England and Montengro – at the conclusion of today’s finals, he was also named Best Male Boxer of the Tournament, an incredible honour for Kristian, his club and his family.
Sean Kelly has won European U17 gold with a 4-0 finals win over Yiğit Keskin of Turkey; judges scored the bout 28: 29; 27: 30; 27: 30; 27: 30; 28:28. Sean, of St. Abbans/Kilmyshall BC in Wexford, boxed to the top of the podium with wins over Poland, Hungary, Ukraine and now Turkey.
Team Co-Captain Cassie Henderson of Phoenix ABC Antrim has won 70kg gold with a unanimous decision win over Ukraine’s Vladyslava Nalyvaiko, scored 28:29; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30. Cassie’s journey to the top of the podium has included wins over Poland and Italy.
Kalib Walshe of Wexford CBS BC comes home from Kienbum with silver after a high-tempo final against Daniel Fabi of Italy. The 4-1 decision went to Fabi, scored 28: 29; 28:29; 29:28; 27:30, 27: 30. Kalib boxed to silver with wins over Azerbaijan, France and Germany
Isabelle Hawkins of St. Nicholas BC, Tipperary, has received her 75kg bronze, having boxed to the podium with a Quarter Final win over Marisol Rivetti of Italy, and lost her semi-final to eventual champion, Vasylyna Olasiuk of Ukraine
Banbridge BC club-mates Lucy Prentice (50kg) and Paige Nickels (54kg) were both awarded their bronze medals today. Lucie’s Championship journey has included a Quarter Final win over Romania’s Iasmina-Georgiana Moraru and a semi-final against eventual champion, England’s Anya New. Pagie boxed to a podium finish with Last 16 win over Lithuania’s Akvilė Siupieniute and a Quarter Final victory over Aleksandra Halbina of Poland, and lost her semi-final to champion Kesia Reale of Italy
Also receiving bronze medals today were Jason Donoghue of Olympic BC Mullingar (60kg) and Pat Stokes of Mullingar Shuffler (46kg) Jason’s progress through these championships has included a Last 32 win over David Harutyunyan of France , a Last 16 win over Estonia’s Artjom Timasov and a quarter final win over Italy’s Raul Barone. Pat’s Championship journey has included a quarter final won over Thomas Lido of Italy.
Team Ireland is led and managed by Anna Moore of St. Francis BC, Limerick and Joey Simpson, Saviours Crystal BC, Waterford. The team is coached by Valerie Hamilton of St. Francis BC, Limerick, Liam Cunningham of Saints BC, Antrim, Linda Morgan of Arklow BC, Wicklow and John Coffey, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry. Joe Lowe of St. Paul’s ABC Belfast has been nominated as an R&J.
Team Ireland
46kg | Louise Joyce | Olympic BC, Westmeath
46kg | Pat Stokes | Mullingar Shuffler BC, Westmeath
48kg | Abby Murray |Muskerry BC, Cork
48kg | Emmet Shields | Glasnevin BC, Dublin
50kg | Lucie Prentice, Banbridge BC, Antrim
50kg | Kristian Jubani | Crumlin BC, Dublin
52kg | Aleigha Murphy | Ballybrack BC, Dublin
52kg | Sean Kelly | St Abbans/Kilmyshall BC, Wexford
54kg | Paige Nickels | Banbridge BC, Antrim
54kg | Michael McDonagh | Avona BC, Dublin
57kg | Ella Archbold |Ballybrack BC, Dublin
57kg | Kalib Walshe | Wexford CBS, Wexford
60kg | Ruth Dossen | Olympic BC, Galway
60kg | Jason Donoghue | Olympic BC, Westmeath
63kg | Claire Crowley | St Martha’s BC, Cork
63kg | Padraig Walsh | Immaculata BC, Antrim
66kg |Alesha Mullis Boyle | Dungloe BC, Donegal
66kg | Kai Dynes Murphy | Immaculata BC, Antrim
70kg | Cassie Henderson | Phoenix ABC, Antrim
70kg |Conor Dowds | Immaculata BC, Antrim
75kg |Isabelle Hawkins | St Nicholas BC, Tipperary
75kg |John Ward | Monivea BC, Galway
80+kg |William Heaphy, Golden Gloves BC, Cork
Support Staff
Team Managers | Anna Moore, St. Francis BC, Limerick | Joey Simpson, Saviours Crystal BC, Waterford
Coaches | Valerie Hamilton, St. Francis BC, Limerick | Liam Cunningham, Saints BC, Antrim
Linda Morgan, Arklow BC, Wicklow | John Coffey, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry
Referee/Judge | Joe Lowe, St. Paul’s ABC, Belfast