John McConnell beat a two-time Continental champion in a career-best performance at the European Junior Championships in Anapa, Russia today.
The Irish flyweight, who also won yesterday, stunned Russia’s Evegeni Zhorov on a split decision to book his ticket into the quarter-finals.
Zhorov won gold at the 2016 European Schoolboys and completed his double after edging Ireland’s Patrick Donovan on a split decision in the 2017 European Schoolboy final in Romania.
Michael Donohoe, Michael Maughan and Shane O’Brien were also in top form en route to victory in Anapa this afternoon.
But Steve Cairns and Taylor Guiney bowed out despite big performances.
Irish team managers Anna Moore and Joe Hennigan said that the Team Ireland athletes gave it absolutely everything and hailed all six performances.
Meanwhile, the Girls in Green are within striking distance of the medals in Russia.
So far, after two days of boxing against the Continent’s finest, Ireland has won seven bouts out of ten, a 70% strike rate.
(Images, courtesy of Anna Moore, of Irish boxers today)
European Junior Championships Anapa, Russia
October 11
Q/finals
48kg Chloe Gabriel (Ireland) v Valeria Linkov (Russia)
52kg Niamh Fay (Ireland) v Marie Scott (England)
54kg Ellie Mai Gartland (Ireland) v Eva Porumova (Bulgaria)
75kg Kaitlyn Doyle (Ireland) v Georgina Andrei (Romania)
80kg Bethany Doocey (Ireland) v Georgiana Schnte (Romania)
Last 16
54kg Patrick Sweeney (Ireland) v Zsolt Ziro (Hungary)
57kg Barry O’Connor (Ireland) v Anton Lovakovic (Croatia)
October 10
Last 16
46kg Michael Donohoe (Ireland) beat Erik Yervandyan (Armenia) 5-0
48kg Michael Maughan (Ireland) beat Mark Rozsavolgyi (Hungary) 5-0
50kg Shane O’Brien (Ireland) beat Martin Balogh (Hungary) RSC2
52kg John McConnell (Ireland) beat Evegeni Zhorov (Russia) 3-2
Last 32
60kg Steve Cairns (Ireland) lost to Giorgi Gegetchkori (Georgia) 2-3
63kg Taylor Guiney (Ireland) lost to Dmitry Zakharov (Russia) 1-4
October 9
Last 16
50kg Rachel Lawless (Ireland) lost to Elaine Ayari (Italy) 1-4
52kg Niamh Fay (Ireland) beat Nikolina Boke (Latvia) 4-1
63kg Leanne Murphy (Ireland) beat Andreea Marin (Romania) 5-0
Last 32
52kg John McConnell (Ireland) beat Matvejs Prokudins (Latvia) 3-2
Q/finals
October 12
Q/finals
57kg Lauren Dempsey (Ireland) v Josefin Betist (Holland)
60kg Sinainn Glynn (Ireland) v Alina Katemrova (Russia)
63kg Leanne Murphy (Ireland) v Loretta Bostos (Hungary)
66kg Leah Gallen (Ireland) v Finja Bree (Germany)
Last 16
70kg Eoghan Lavin (Ireland) v Renato Kozak (Hungary)
75kg Jason Myers (Ireland) v Angelo Sparaco (Italy)
80+kg Bonvie Ndefi (Ireland) v Levanta Kiss (Hungary)
October 13
Q/Final
46kg Michael Donohoe (Ireland) v Jack Dryden (England) or Victor Serbov (Moldova)
48kg Michael Maughan (Ireland) v Colin Cairney (Scotland) or Mihail Taranu (Moldova)
50kg Shane O’Brien (Ireland) v Michaelle Baldassi (Italy) or Denii Alagic (Croatia)
52kg John McConnell (Ireland) v Billy Adams (England) or Davit Yegoryan (Armenia)
80kg Patrick Myers (Ireland) v Matous Kasrviank (Czech Rep)
October 15
S/Finals
46kg Breda Quilligan (Ireland) v Hungary or Turkey
70kg v Lisa O’Rourke (Ireland) v Russia or Germany
80kg+ Kori Goad (Ireland) v Olowia Toborek (Poland)
Irish squad
Male
46kg Michael Donohue (St Michaels Athy)
48kg Michael Maughan (Olympic
50kg Shane O’Brien (Raging Bull)
52kg John McConnell (Holy Trinity)
54kg Patrick Sweeney (Olympic)
57kg Barry O’Connor (Sliabh Luachra)
60kg Steven Cairns (Legacy)
63kg Taylor Quiney (Drimnagh)
70kg Eoghan Lavin (Ballyhaunis)
75kg Jason Myers (Olympic)
80kg Patrick Myers (Sligo City)
80+kg Bonvie Ndefi (Olympic Mullingar)
Female
46kg Breda Quilligan (Rathkeale)
48kg Chloe Gabriel (Mulhuddart)
50kg Rachel Lawless (Portlaoise)
52kg Niamh Fay (Swords)
54kg Ellie Mai Gartland (Clonmel)
57kg Lauren Dempsey (Ryston)
60kg Sinainn Glynn (Cloghan)
63kg Leanne Murphy (Togher)
66kg Leah Gallen (Raphoe)
70kg Lisa O’Rourke (Castlerea)
75kg Kaitlyn Doyle (St Brigids Kildare)
80kg Bethany Doocey (Castlebar)
80+kg Kori Goad (Cahen Vale)
Team Managers
Anna Moore (St Francis)
Joe Hennigan (Connacht Council)
Coaches
Billy McClean (High Performance)
Eve Carr (Enniskerry)
Liam Cunningham (Saints)
James Doyle (Monkstown Dublin)
Brian Barry (Riverstown)
Martin Donovan (Our Lady of Lourdes)
Referee/Judge
Michael Gill (Ballymore/Hollywood)