Four Team Ireland boxers will contest this weekend’s 2024 European U22 Championship finals in Sofia, Bulgaria.
327 boxers from 36 federations have contested the tournament -Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, IBA Neutral N, IBA Neutral B, Ireland, Israel, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales.
48kg Carleigh Irving was the first between the ropes, opening the action in Ring A’s Afternoon Session. She boxed for a place in the final against Lilla Szeleczk of Hungary. Carleigh was the dominant boxer from the off, but the bout was a testy one, resulting in a point deduction for the Hungarian. Carleigh up-grade her bronze by way of a 5-0 decision, on a score line of 30:26; 30:26; 30:26; 30:26; 30:26.
2022 World Champion, 70kg Lisa O’Rourke, contested her semi final against Poland’s Barbara Marcinkowska and her opponent was similarly penalised…Lisa is through to Saturday’s finals following a UD. The final scores: 30:26; 30:26; 30:26; 30:26; 30:26.
48kg Louis Rooney was first up in Ring B’s Evening Session, and boxed for a place in the finals against Hungary’s Csaba Zsigo. Louis showed this class throughout the bout, and won each round. His UD on a 30:27; 30:27; 30:27; 30:27; 30:27. 54kg Patsy Joyce took on Ukraine’s Dymtro Kolisnichenko – these boxers were well match in a close contest which went to the judges. The Estonian, Slovakian and Serbian judges favoured Patsy, and he’ll box for gold on Sunday. Judges scored the bout: *28:28; 29:27 *28:28; *28:28; 29:27.
54kg Robin Kelly contested to upgrade against Paris Olympian and reigning European champion, Serbia’s Sara Cirkovic. Robin put in a battling performance, but the 5-0 decision went to the Serbian athlete. Judges scored the bout 30:27; 30:27; 30:27; 30:27; 30:27. Robin comes home with bronze, with two wins in the bank. 51kg Clepson dos Santos returned to action in Bout 2 of Ring A’s Evening Session, and met Armenia’s Rudolf Garboyan. Judges scored the bout 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30.
71kg Bobbi Flood took on former World Youth and Elite Champion, Yurii Zakharieiev. Bobbi contested very strongly against the Ukrainian, who is three years his senior, and held him to a 4-1 split. Judges scored the bout 30:27; 30:27; 28:29; 29:28; 30:27. In the last bout of the day in Ring A, 92+kg Martin McDonagh met Greece’s Stylianos Roulias, an athlete who, like Martin, missed out on Paris qualification in Bangkok by a hair’s breadth. This was an extremely close bout, and Martin fell foul of the dreaded 3-2 split, on a scoreline of 29:28; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 29:28;
327 boxers from 36 federations have contested the tournament -Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, IBA Neutral N, IBA Neutral B, Ireland, Israel, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales.
Finals
Friday is a rest day at the tournament. Organisers have revised Women’s finals will be boxed on Saturday, and Men’s on Sunday. Boxing on both days begins at 2pm, Irish time.
48kg Carleigh Irving will take on Turkey’s Nursselen Yalgattekin in the opening bout of the Women’s Finals. In bout 9, 70kg Lisa O’Rourke will contest for gold against IBA-B’s Darya Letsko.
On Sunday, 48kg Louis Rooney is first up, boxing for a top-of-the-podium place against Azerbaijan’s Tural Sariyev. 54kg Patsy Joyce is in action in the 3rd bout, taking on Scotland’s Aaron Cullen.
Robyn Kelly will be awarded her bronze medal on Saturday. Clepson dos Santos, Bobbi Flood and Martin McDonagh will receive their medals on Sunday.
Watch
The EUBC is live-streaming the tournament on its YouTube channel. Links, per day and session, will be published closer to the time of boxing.
Team Ireland
48kg Carleigh Irving, Oakleaf Boxing Club
54kg Robyn Kelly, Ballynacargy Boxing Club
57kg Niamh Fay, Phoenix of Ballyboughal Boxing Club
63kg Linda Desmond, Rylane Boxing Club
66kg Kaci Rock, Enniskerry Boxing Club
70kg Lisa O’Rourke, Castlerea Boxing Club
75kg Bethany Dooecy, Castlebar Boxing Club
48kg Louis Rooney, Star Boxing Club
51kg Clepson dos Santos, Holy Trinity ABC
54kg Patsy Joyce, Olympic BC Mullingar
57kg Gavin Ryan, Ratoath Golden Gloves Boxing Club
63.5kg Roy Colgan, Avona Boxing Club
67kg Luke Hall, Olympic Boxing Club Mullingar
71kg Bobbi Flood, Cabra Boxing Club
75kg Josh Olaniyan, Jobstown Boxing Club
80kg James Whelan, Dublin Docklands Boxing Club
86kg Kian Hedderman, St. Francis Boxing Club
92+kg Martin McDonagh, Galway Boxing Club
Support Staff
Team Manager: Sean Crowley
Head Coach: Eoin Puck
Coach: Lynne McEnery
Coach: Damian Kennedy
Coach: Jay Delaney
Coach Mentor: Zauri Antia
Physiotherapist: Ceire Smith
R&J: Mal Scott.
Session 21A Results
Session 22B Results
Session 23A results