Five Team Ireland boxers are gearing-up to contest European U19 Championship sem-finals, following the completion today of all quarter finals.
Yesterday, 60kg Sean McCusker bagged a bronze, after victory over Finland’s Aapo Rovanper. Sean is back in action in his semi-final, against Greece’s Petros Nearchos Konstantinoudis on Tuesday. 75kg Nessa Tabachuk is also assured of a bronze, at minimum, following a bye to the semi-finals.
Team Ireland Co-Captain, 51kg Kayliegh Byrne, made short work of her quarter final, against home boxers Czech Republic’s Adela Sanislova Kayleigh, winning by RSC in Round 2. Kayleigh will vie for a medal up-grade on Wednesday, against England’s Ruby White.
Also in action against a home boxer was 57kg Grace Dowling, taking on Julie Polednikova – Grace dominated every round, winning a UD with scores of: 27:30; 26:30, 27:30; 27:30; 27:30. Grace will box her semi-final on Wednesday, against Mirela Elisa Mirel Cojocaru of Romania
65kg John Donoghue has won, at minimum, a bronze medal, following a decisive quarter final victory over Ukraine’s Vladyslav Zheleznov which included giving standing counts . Judges scored the bout 27:30; 26:30, 26:30; 26:30; 27:30. John will vie for a medal upgrade in his semi-final on Wednesday, against Greece’s Emmanouil Fotiadis.
Not to be for Team Ireland’s 90kg Shay O’Dowd – he boxed his high tempo quarter final against Slovakia’s David Zahradnicek – the unanimous decision went to the Slovakian boxer. Judges scored the bout 28:29, 28:29, 27:30, 27:30, 28:90
105 female and 189 male boxers from 33 nations are competiting in Ostrava. The participating nations are: Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine.
Semi Finals
Monday is a rest day in Ostava, and semi finals will be boxed across Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th.
Sean McCusker will box his semi on Tuesday, while Kayleigh, Grace, Nessa and John are back in action on Wednesday.
All finals will be boxed on Thursday, October 9th.
Watch
The tournament is being live-streamed by the Czech Boxing Federation on its YouTube channel HERE. Links, per ring and session, will become available on the day of boxing
Team Ireland
48kg Chloe Cox, Setanta BC, Co. Kildare
50kg Kurt Kinsella, Monkstown BC Dublin
51kg Kayleigh Byrne, Gorey BC, Co. Wexford
55kg Michael Reilly. St. Paul’s BC, Co. Waterford
57kg Grace Conway, Tredagh BC, Co. Louth
60kg Sean McCusker, Dealgan BC, Co. Louth
65kg John Donoghue, Olympic BC, Co. Westmeath
70kg Katelyn Butler, St. Colman’s BC Co. Cork
70kg Patrick Kelly, St. Abban’s/Kilmyshall BC Co. Wexford
75kg Nessa Tabachuk, Celtic Eagles BC, Co. Galway
75kg Jason Whelan, Dublin Docklands BC
85kg Chulainn McDonnell, Whitechurch BC, Dublin
90kg Shay O’Dowd, Swords BC Dublin
Support staff:
Team Manager: Jennifer O’Sullivan, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry
Coaches: Liam Cunningham, Saints ABC, Belfast; Ralph McKay, St. Paul’s BC, Belfast; Aoife Hennigan. Swinford BC, Co. Mayo; Garry Keogh, Marble City BC, Co. Kilkenny