Ireland were the 10 bouts to 2 victors over Ukraine in the Clash of the Titans International in Castlerea. The event, and the aligned camp, received significant support from the local community and throughout Connacht – the International was attended by several hundred people and MC’d by Al Morris.
Clash of the Titans: Results
W50KG Daina Moorhouse beat Tetiana Kob, 5-0
M51KG Dmytro Zamotayev beat Sean Mari, 3-2
W54KG Niamh Fay beat. Anastasiia Kovalchuk, 5-0
W57KG Michaela Walsh beat Anhelina Lakhno, 5-0
M57KG Adam Hession beat Aider Abduraimov, 4-1
W60KG Kellie Harrington beat Hanna Okhrei, 5-0
M63.5KG Dean Clancy beat Yaroslav Khartsyz, 5-0
W66KG Lisa O’Rourke beat. Anastasiia Chernokolenko, 5-0
M71KG Eugene McKeever beat Yurii Zakharieiev, 4-1
W75KG Aoife O’Rourke beat Karolina Makhno, 5-0
M80KG Matvii Razhba beatJames Whelan, 5-0
M92KG Jack Marley beat Serhii Horskov, 5-0
M92+KG Martin McDonagh beat Dmytro Lovchynskyi, 4-1
Guests attending on the night included the Olympic Federation of Ireland’s Pari 2024 Chef de Mission, Gavin Noble, Sport Ireland Directors of High Performance Sport, Paul McDermott and Niamh O’Sullivan. Members of the IABA Board of Directors, Fiona Hennigan and Tom Geraghty, officiated the event.
The International followed a week-long dual-nations training camp with Ukraine, hosted by Castlerea BC and Paddy Sharkey. This camp was a key preparatory event for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the 2nd Olympic World Qualifier and the 2024 European Games.
Ukraine returned to Ireland after taking part a High Performance Super Camp in Sport Institute Ireland, the home of the HPU, in September. The High Performance Unit has, in the last 6 months, hosted Spain, France and Turkey in camps in Dublin and Belfast.
The High Performance Unit extends its deep thanks to Castlerea Boxing Club, Paddy Sharkey, the Connacht Provincial Council and the local communities of Castlerea and Roscommon for their support of the camp. High Performance is also grateful to the officials, including National Registrar Philip Rooney, who officiated at the International, as well as Castlerea BC volunteers and supporters.
Fantastic piece by John Mulligan of Galway Bay FM Sports on the Ireland V Ukraine international, featuring interviews with High Performance Head Coach Zauri Antia, Castlerea BC’s Paddy Sharkey, Galway Amateur Boxing Association‘s Alan Donnellan, Double Olympian, Michaela Walsh, 57kg Adam Hession, Paris Olympian Dean Clancy, 66kg Lisa O’Rourke, 71kg Eugene McKeever, Paris Olympian Jack Marley, 92+kg Martin McDonagh, John Waldon:
A series of 13 test matches between Ireland and Ukraine took place on Wednesday and Thursday, as part of the dual nations camp.
| IRELAND | UKRAINE | |||
| 1 | 10.30 | Shannon Sweeney | Tetiana Kob | W5OKG |
| 2 | 10.45 | Daina Moorhouse | Yaroslava Marynchuk | W50KG |
| 3 | 11.00 | Michaela Walsh | Kovalchuk Anastasiia | W57KG |
| 4 | 11.15 | Niamh Fay | Lakhno Anhelina | W54KG |
| 5 | 11.30 | Grainne Walsh | Chernokolenko Anastasiia | W66KG |
| 6 | 11.30 | Aoife O’Rourke | Makhno Karolina | W75KG |
| 7 | 11.45 | Michaela Walsh | Okhrei Hanna | W60KG |
| BREAK for Lunch 12.15-1.00pm | ||||
| 8 | 1.30 | Rickey Nesbitt | Zamotayev Dmytro | M51KG |
| 9 | 1.45 | Jude Gallagher | Abduraimov Aider | M57KG |
| 10 | 2.00 | Eugene McKeever | Zakharieiev Yurii | M71KG |
| 11 | 2.15 | James Whelan | Razhba Matvii | M80KG |
| 12 | 2.30 | Jack Marley | Horskov Serhii | M92KG |
| 13 | 2.45 | Martin McDonagh | Lovchynskyi Dmytro | M92&KG |
This camp has included additional key elements, among them a High Performance Coaching Seminar at Castlerea BC on Monday, in which 14 coaches participated. It included involved a boxing technical presentation by High Performance Head Coach Zauri Antia and Coach, Damian Kennedy, observation of a High Performance school combat training session, and a Q&A.
This is the second such seminar hosted by High Performance in 2024, following the holding of an Ulster Coaching Seminar at the Ulster High Performance Unit at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown, in January. Up to 30 coaches took part in that workshop.
On Wednesday, High Performance boxers, including former World Champion, Castlerea’s Lisa O’Rourke, Paris qualified Dean Clancy, and Dean Walsh, coached a training session today, with HP Coaches, for Castlerea’s Junior squad.
The session included technical training, padwork and footwork. Over 35 children took part in two separate sessions today, delivered by HP boxers. High Performance Director, Tricia Heberle, says “Great to be able to give some of the local Castlerea kids some special memories. HPU athletes were all class in spending time coaching them. Shout out to Dean Clancy, Lisa O’Rourke and Dean Walsh”
Roscommon County Council on Wednesday hosted a civic reception for the both teams at Roscommon Town Hall.
This was a great honour for boxers and coaches from both teams, and a wonderful show of support by the people of Roscommon for Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport.