Irish boxing is guaranteed at least four silver medals at the European Youth Championships in Italy.
Daina Moorehouse, Dearbhla Rooney, Evelyn Igharo and Dean Clancy won their semi-finals this afternoon to book tickets into Wednesday’s gold medal deciders.
But Irish captain Lauren Kelly bowed out to Albania and Jude Gallagher was shaded after a slug-fest with Hungary’s Atilla Bernath.
Moorehouse, scoring consistently with her backhand in all three rounds versus Germany’s Maxi Klotzer , soaked up a few right hooks, particularly in the third, on her way to the final, but it was a convincing win for the Wicklow light-fly who was awarded one 10-8 round. Russian southpaw Kseniia Beschastnova, the current Siberian Youth champion, awaits in the final.
“She was a very tough girl. I was delighted to get the win and be in my second European final. It’s my first year being a Youth. I got emotional I was so happy,” said Moorehouse.
Rooney grew in stature in each round against Valeria Radionova in the feather class. The Russian champion was solid throughout, but Rooney kept slipping home lefts. The Irish champion went for broke in the final frame, two big right hooks late in the third round sealing a 3-2 split and a massive victory.
Stylish Dundalk light-welter Igharo is another Irish boxer with a reach that looks a threat to opponents in the next building. Constantly changing the angle of attack, Igharo scored with some wonderful boxing in all three rounds to earn a unanimous decision over Ukraine’s 2017 European Junior bronze medallist Maria Sedaya.
Kelly won the first against Elsidata Selaj 4-1 but the Albanian middle bounced back to take rounds two and three in a close 75kg encounter,
Clancy again showed his class, earning a unanimous decision over Ukraine’s European Junior champion Yurii Tomiuk in the flyweight class, Clancy operating off the front and back foot with precision to take all three rounds.
Gallagher was involved in a very close tussle with Bernath. The Hungarian light-fly, the 2017 European Youth finalist, worked hard throughout, while Gallagher put in a massive shift in an unrelenting 49kg battle.
Irish team managers Peter O’Donnell and Fiona Hennigan hailed the performances of Ireland’s semi-finalists and the Irish coaching staff today.
Ireland’s finalists, all assured of silver, will be back in action tomorrow with four gold medals on the line.
Team Ireland are due to arrive home via Dublin Airport at 1.35pm on Thursday afternoon, April 26, (Terminal 2).
Irish amateur boxing is proudly sponsored by Liffey Crane
European Men’s and Women’s Youth Championships Roseto degli Abruzzi, Italy April 17/26
April 25th
Finals
48kg Daina Moorhouse (Ireland) v Kseniia Beschastnova (Russia)
52kg Dean Clancy (Ireland) v Ivan Price (England)
57kg Dearbhla Rooney (Ireland) v Jessica Triebelova (Slovakia)
65kg Evelyn Igharo (Ireland) v Gemma Richardson (England)
April 24th
S/Finals
48kg Daina Moorhouse (Ireland) beat Maxi Klotzer (Germany) 4-1
49kg Jude Gallagher (Ireland) lost to Atilla Bernath (Hungary) 0-5
52kg Dean Clancy (Ireland) beat Yurii Tomiuk (Ukraine) 5-0
57kg Dearbhla Rooney (Ireland) beat Valeria Radionova (Russia) 3-2
65kg Evelyn Igharo (Ireland) beat Maria Sedaya (Ukraine) 5-0
75kg Lauren Kelly (Ireland) lost to Elsidata Selaj (Albania) 0-5
April 22nd
Q/Finals
48kg Daina Moorhouse (Ireland) beat Marta Lopez (Spain) 5-0
49kg Jude Gallagher (Ireland) beat Seyran Yeghikyan (Armenia) 5-0
56kg Brandon McCarthy (Ireland) lost to Muhamet Qamili (Albania) 2-3
57kg Dearbhla Rooney (Ireland) beat Nikolina Cacic (Croatia) 4-1
65kg Evelyn Igharo (Ireland) beat Anita Zilic (Croatia) RSC1
75kg Lauren Kelly (Ireland) beat Sena Erdogen (Turkey) 3-0
April 21st
Last 16
51kg Caitlin Fryers (Ireland) lost to Liubov Sharpova (Russia) 1-4
54kg Mary Geraghty (Ireland) lost to Aycan Guldagi (Turkey) 0-5
60kg Aoibhe Ginty (Ireland) lost to Stephanie von Berge (Germany) AB3
Q/Finals
52kg Dean Clancy (Ireland) beat Patrick Cappi (Italy) 4-1
81kg Aoibhe Carrabine (Ireland) lost to Sagit Emanur (Turkey) 0-5
81kg Edward Barrett (Ireland) lost to Karol Itauma (England) 0-5
April 20th
Last 16
49kg Jude Gallagher (Ireland) beat Ali Dagly (Ukraine) 5-0
52kg Dean Clancy (Ireland) beat Murat Ugurlu (Turkey) 5-0
56kg Brandon McCarthy (Ireland) beat Joe Tyres (England) 5-0
64kg Callum Walsh (Ireland) lost to Ilya Popov (Russia) 1-4
69kg Edward Donovan (Ireland) lost to Konstantin Barbosu (Hungary) 1-4
April 19th
Last 16
48kg Daina Moorhouse (Ireland) beat Jvanisova Olena (Ukraine) 5-0
57kg Dearbhla Rooney (Ireland) beat Weronikia Pawlak (Poland) 5-0
81kg Edward Barrett (Ireland) beat Ahmad Abdun Abu (Israel) 4-0Last 32
52kg Dean Clancy (Ireland beat Maksim Pankou (Belarus) 5-0
60kg Alex Higgins (Ireland) lost to Bojan Timotijevic (Serbia) 1-4
April 18th
Last 32
56kg Brandon McCarthy (Ireland) beat Alexander Tanko (Slovakia) 5-0
64kg Callum Walsh (Ireland) beat Kilp Frank (Germany) 5-0
69kg Edward Donovan (Ireland) beat Michal Jarlinski (Poland) 5-0
75kg Kane Tucker (Ireland) lost to Gabrijel Veocic (Croatia) 2-3
Irish squad
Male
49kg Jude Gallagher (Two Castles) (Bronze)
52kg Dean Clancy (Ballinacarrow) (Silver, at least)
56kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michaels Athy)
60kg Alex Higgins (Fr Horgans)
64kg Callum Walsh (Riverstown)
69kg Edward Donovan (O.L.O.L.)
75kg Kane Tucker (Holy Family GG) Cpt
81kg Edward Barrett (Olympic)
Female
48kg Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry) (Silver, at least)
51kg Caitlyn Fryers (Immaculata)
54kg Mary Geraghty (Baldoyle)
57kg Dearbhla Rooney (Sean McDermott) (Silver, at least)
60kg Aoibhe Ginty (Geesala)
64kg Evelyn Igharo (Clann Naofa) (Silver, at least)
75kg Lauren Kelly (St Brigids Edenderry) Cpt (Bronze)
81kg Aoibhe Crabine (Geesala)
IABA President Dom O’Rourke
Team Manager: Peter O’Donnell and Fiona Hennigan
Coaches: Billy McClean, Michael Carruth, Michael Mongan,Anita Just
R&J John Casey
