Irish and French squads and staff at National Stadium gym

Moira McElligot, who moved up one weight to face French light Sofia Nabet, was also edged on a split.

Smith said: “It was a good fight. She was small and compact but I was on the front foot for all the rounds. I felt in control, I had her on the backfoot.”

Kelly Harrington tied the match at 2-2 on the first unanimous decision on of the evening, the Dubliner taking all three judges with her versus  current French light-welter champion Amina Zidani.

But France won the final two bouts of on a unanimous verdicts, Erika Guerrier, the French middle champion, and Maily Nicar decisioning Lisa Browne and Christina Desmond.

Irish interim head coache Zaur Antia and club trainers were working Ireland’s corner tonight.

Ovrahmoune,Zidani and Guerrier claimed French Elite titles in Paris last month.

The French team have been training with Ireland for almost a week at the National Stadium gym, culminating in tonight’s six-bout international card.

Meanwhile, Team Ireland, including Desmond, leave for a final training camp in Assisi, Italy on Monday morning.

Katie Taylor and the Irish men’s and women’s team will train in Assisi  in the countdown to the European Olympic qualifiers which begin in Samsun on April 9.

The Irish Athletic Boxing Association thanks all supporters for attending tonight’s international.

Ireland v France  National Stadium Dublin March 26th

51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan) beat Saray Ovrahmoune (France) 2-1

54kg Dervla Duffy (Ryston) lost to Mona Mestiaen (France) 1-2

60kg Moira McElligot (St Michael’s Athy) lost to Sofia Nabet (France) 1-2

64kg Kelly Harrington (Glasnevin) beat  Amina Zidani (France) 3-0

75kg Lisa Browne (Eagles) lost to Erika Guerrier (France) 0-3

75kg Christina Desmond  (Fr Horgan’s) lost to  Maily Nicar (France) 0-3

Irish and French squads and staff at National Stadium gym

Belfast flyweight Michaela Walsh and Cork middleweight Christina Desmond begin a whirlwind four weeks tonight versus France in an Elite women’s international at Dublin’s National Stadium.

The Ulster and Munster pair line out for their country before flying into Assisi, Italy early Monday morning with Olympic champion Katie Taylor and the Irish men’s team for a final training camp in the countdown to the European Olympic qualifiers in Samsun,Turkey.

Irish and French squads

Ceire Smith, Kelly Harrington, Dervla Duffy, Grainne Walsh  and Moira McElligot also line out for the Girls in Green against Les Blues tonight.

Harrington is in against Amina Zidani, the current French Elite light-welter champion.

Zidani, Saray Ovrahmoune and Erika Guerrier, who face Michaela Walsh and Grainne Walsh, claimed Elite belts at the French Championships in Aubervilliers, Paris last month.

Vive la France! French squad in National Stadium gym

France have been training with Ireland for the last number of days at the National Stadium.

Boxing begins at 7.30pm tonight.

Admission is from €5.

Ireland v France  National Stadium Dublin March 26th (7.30pm)

51kg Michaela Walsh (Holy Family) v Saray Ovrahmoune (France)

51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan) v Wassila Lkhadiri (France)

54kg Dervla Duffy (Ryston) v Mona Mestiaen (France)

60kg Moira McElligot (St Michael’s Athy) v Sofia Nabet (France)

64kg Kelly Harrington (Glasnevin) v Amina Zidani (France)

75kg Christina Desmond  (Fr Horgan’s) v Maily Nicar (France)

75kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus) v  Erika Guerrier (France)

French 2016 National Elite Women’s Finals Results, February 13th Paris

48kg Cassandra Crevecoeur beat Nassia Mekkid 3:0

51kg Sara Ourahmoune  beat Vassilia Lkhadiri 3:0

54kg Delphine Mancini beat Mona Mestiaen 3:0

57kg Stelly Ferge beat  Julie Le Galliard 2:1

60kg Estelle Mosselly beat Flora Pili  3:0

64kg Amina Zidani  beat Wendy Couvercelle 2:1

69kg Marie-Helene Meron beat Malika Gonthier Silva 2:1

75kg Erika Guerrier beat Davina Michel 3-0

The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) were delighted to open its doors to Irish boxing supporters free of charge yesterday as Ireland and Lithuania’s Elite men’s boxing teams went head to head in an exciting test match at the National Stadium. This was a great opportunity for our Athletes to showcase their talents to the public as usually these preparations take place in a closed gym environment.

No scores were kept but it provided a great test for the team ahead of the squad’s departure to a training camp in Assisi, Italy next week with the clock ticking down toward next month’s crucial European Olympic qualifiers in Samsun, Turkey.

The Lithuania Elite Team have been training with Ireland for the last seven days at the National Stadium’s High Performance Unit.

Olympic hero Katie Taylor was also scheduled to take to the National Stadium’s main ring alongside Ireland’s Elite Men after 4pm, but unfortunately due to a personal commitment which arose yesterday, the IABA were happy to facilitate her request for her test bout with Kurt Walker to take place an hour earlier at 3pm at the adjacent National Stadium gym. Irish Interim Head Coach, Zuari Antia said: “Katie requested that her bout with Kurt be held an hour earlier at 3pm because she had a personal appointment. We were pleased to facilitate her request.”

The IABA would like to apologise to any fans that were disappointed not to see their hero in action.

Meanwhile, Ireland’s boxing fans are in for another treat this weekend with a full Elite Female International also planned for the National Stadium v France which is scheduled to commence at 7.30pm on Saturday 26th March.

Les Bleus arrived in to Ireland on 20th March and have been training with the Irish team. The visiting team includes three champions from the recent French Elite Championships in Paris.

Click here for more details.

Picture courtesy of Sportsfile

Katie Taylor

Ireland and Lithuania met in a test match at the National Stadium today with the clock ticking down toward next month’s crucial European Olympic qualifiers in Turkey.

Both nations are building up toward the final Continental qualifiers which begin on April 9th in Samsun.

Olympic champion Katie Taylor met current Elite bantam champion Kurt Walker and two-time Olympic bronze medallist Paddy Barnes was in against current Irish Elite champion Stephen McKenna this afternoon.

Steven Donnelly, who, along with Barnes, Michael Conlan and Joe Ward has qualified for Rio 2016, met Lithuania’s European Elite welter champion Evaldas Petrauskas.

Three-time EU champion David Oliver Joyce and Ireland’s Elites were also firing on all cylinders at the home of Irish boxing.

Special Olympics Ireland, who had done the country proud with numerous medals won at Olympic and international level, were guests of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) today and former WBO World middleweight champion Andy Lee, Ireland’s only boxer at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, was back at ringside as a venue he graced as a St Francis BC southpaw.

The French women’s Elite team. who meet Ireland at the National Stadium on Saturday, also attended today’s test.

Irish interim head coach Zaur Antia said he was very pleased with the training camp and the quality of today’s test.

The Ireland versus Lithuania training camp finishes tomorrow at the National Stadium.

Team Ireland depart for their final training camp in Assisi, Italy next Monday.

“We enjoyed some tremendous match ups against a talented and strong Lithuania side today amid an excellent atmosphere at the National Stadium, said IABA President Pat Ryan.

“The Irish squad looks sharp and focussed. The Assisi training camp is the next stop for the team. That will complete preparations for Turkey which is the first big tournament in what promises to be a very eventful year for our sport.

“The Irish Athletic Boxing Association thanks Lithuania for today’s match and wishes them the very best of luck in the Olympic qualifiers. We would also like to thank everyone for attending today .”

No scores were kept in today’s match. Lithuania have been training with Ireland for the last seven days at the National Stadium.

Rio 2016 Olympians Barnes, Conlan and Ward will take part in the Assisi training camp, while Donnelly is slated to box in the World Series of Boxing for the Hussars of Poland  next month.

Following Samsun there will be three final qualiers for Rio; the World Women’s Elite Championships in Kazakhstan in May, a World qualifier (for males) in Baku, Azerbaijan in June and “last chance saloon”, the World Series of Boxing versus AIBA Pro Boxing qualifier at a date and venue to be confirmed in June or early July.

Ireland versus Lithuania Test Match

52kg Paddy Barnes (Holy Family) v Stephen McKenna (Old School)

52kg Brendan Irvine (St Pauls) v TJ Waite (Ormeau Rd)

60kg David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy) v Edgaras Skurdelis (Lithuania)

60kg Katie Taylor (Bray) v Kurt Walker (Canal)

64kg Dean Walsh (St Joesphs/St Ibars) v Evaldas Petrauskas (Lithuania)

69kg Steven Donnelly (All Saints) v Evaldas Stanionis (Lithuania)

75kg Conor Wallace (St Monicas) v Valera Dodeo (Lithuania)

91kg Kiril Asfansev (Smithfield) v Todas Tamasauskas (Lithuania)

91kg+: Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) v Mantas Valavicius (Lithuania)