Two more Team Ireland boxers have won through to the finals of the 2025 European U19 Championships in the Czech Republic.
57kg Grace Dowling is assured of at least a silver medal following a dominant performance in Ostrava this afternoon . She was the 5-0 winner over Romania’s Elise Mirela Cojocaru in her semi final.The judges scored the bout 28:26; 28:26, 28:26, 28:26, 28:26.
65kg John Donoghue has won a silver medal, following his semi-final against Greece’s Emmanouil Fotiadis, which ended in the first round following the Greek boxer’s disqualification. John’s opponent was disqualified for a blow to the back of John’s head. John was assessed at ringside by the tournament’s medical staff, and required no further treatment. The team leadership, in consultation with John, his club and his family, have decided to withdraw him from tomorrow’s finals to safeguard his wellbeing and his future career.
Team Co-Captain 51kg Kayleigh Byrne will return on Friday with bronze. She boxed a superb semi-final against 2024 World & European Youth champ, England’s Ruby White. The 5-0 decision went to the English boxer. The judges scored the bout 29:28; 29:28; 30:27; 29:28; 30:27. 75kg Nessa Tabachuk returns from the European U19 Championship with bronze, following her semi final against Italy’s Miriam di Savino. The 5-0 decision went to the Italian boxer. The final scores: 27: 30, 27: 30, 27: 30, 27: 30, 27: 30.
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.
There has been key developmental sparring for post competition Team Ireland boxers on the margins of the tournament, including against Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Norway, Czech Republic, Sweden, Belgium and Greece.
Finals
60kg Sean McCusker, of Dealgan BC, Louth, will face Georgia’s Luka Chkhikvadze having recorded wins during this championship over England’s Isaac Huczmann, Estonia’s Aleksandr Jivoloup and Finland’s Aapo Rovanper. Sean steps between the ropes in Bout 7 of the Afternoon Session, at around 2.30pm.
57kg Grace Conway, of Tredagh BC, Louth, will box for gold against England’s Lianne Wise, having recorded victories over Czech Republic’s Julie Polednikova, Italy’s Martina di Felice and Romania’s Elise Mirela Cojocaru. Grace is in action in Bout 2 of the Evening Session, at approximately 5.15pm.
The finals progamme is available here
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