Shannon Reilly was agonisingly edged out on a split decision for at least bronze at the European Women’s Youth and Junior Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria tonight.
The Irish welter was shaded by England’s Olivia Hussey on a 3-2 split in the quarter-finals.
Shauna Blaney and Labhaoise Clarke ceded close unanimous decisions to Bulgaria’s Goryana Stovea and Ulyana Yesipena (Belarus) in the fly and feather classes.
“Shauna had a really tough girl from Bulgaria. Shauna boxed well but got brought into a slugging match at the end of rounds two and three, said Irish head coach Jimmy Payne.
“Labhaoise boxed outstanding in all three rounds, getting tired in the third but all the coaches thought she won the fight.
“Shannon Reilly was the fight of the night. Shannon was oustanding in rounds two and three. We all felt so disappointed for her after again beating the favourite from Ukraine the night before. A really, really bright prospect.”
Earlier this afternoon, Cairlin Fryers, Mary Geraghty and Katelynn recorded a hat-trick of wins.
Fryers hammered out a unanimous decision over Switzerland’s Eliana Pileggi and Geraghty and Phelan followed that up with impressive wins over Armenia’s Anahit Aroyari and Lithuania’s Vyataute Kupciunaite in the last 16 of the tournament.
“Caitlin followed tactical plan. Her work rate was very high against a very talented Swiss opponent, said Irish team manager Bernie Harold.
“Mary won against a very tough Armenian opponent. The Armenian was very strong, coming forward and Mary used her angles and shot selection was perfect. This is probably the most accomplished performance from the Baldoyle boxer in an Irish vest.
“From the first bell until the last, Phelan stalked her Lithuanian opponent. Katelynn was back to her best controlling the distance and keeping her opponent on the back foot for all three round and it was a brilliant performance from Katelynn.
Seven Irish boxers will be in action tomorrow at the tournament. Please click here and here and see below draws.
European Women’s Youth & Junior Championships Sofia, Bulgaria July 2nd/10th
Youths
Q/Finals
July 3rd
75kg Lauren Kelly (Ireland) beat Gabriella Petrovics (Hungary) 4-1
Last 16
69kg Shannon Reilly (Ireland) beat Natalia Melesha (Ukraine) 5-0
July 4th
Last 16
48kg Caitlin Fryers (Ireland) beat Eliana Pileggi (Switzerland) 5-0
51kg Shauna Blaney (Ireland) lost to Goryana Stovea (Bulgaria) 0-5
54kg Mary Geraghty (Ireland) beat Anahit Aroyan (Armenia) 4-1
57kg Labhaoise Clarke (Ireland) lost to Ulyana Yesipena (Belarus) 0-5
63kg Katelynn Phelan (Ireland) beat Vyataute Kupciunaite (Lithuania) 5-0
Q/Finals
69kg Shannon Reilly (Ireland) lost to Olivia Hussey (England) 2-3
July 5th
Q/Finals
48kg Caitlin Fryers (Ireland) v Christina Madalina (Romania)
54kg Mary Geraghty (Ireland) v Exaterina Molchanova (Russia)
60kg Marguerita Nevin (Ireland) v Patrycja Borys (Poland)
63kg Katelynn Phelan (Ireland) v Aaslahan Mehmedova (Bulgaria)
July 6th
S/Finals
75kg Lauren Kelly (Ireland) v Anastasia Shamonova (Russia)
Juniors
July 3rd
Last 16
57kg Niamh Fay (Ireland) lost to Vilma Viitanen (Finland) 0-5
63kg Evelyn Igharo (Ireland) beat Diana Rys (Russia) 3-2
July 5th
Q/Finals
63kg Evelyn Egharo (Ireland) v Gulca Arga (Turkey)
75kg Aoibhe Carabine (Ireland) v Wiktoria Kluska (Poland)
Last 16
52kg Mary Kate Nevin (Ireland) v Giorgia Rossi (Italy)
July 6th
Q/Finals
46kg Ciara Brien (Ireland) v Lidia Monostory (Hungary)
48kg Daina Moorehouse (Ireland) v Viktoria Fabuliak (Ukraine)
50kg Catherine Blaney (Ireland) v Lenka Bernardou (Czech Rep)
54kg Chloe McDaid (Ireland) v Jekaterina Marchenko (Latvia)
Irish Squad
Youth
48kg Caitlin Fryers (Immaculata)
51kg Shauna Blaney (Navan)
54kg Mary Geraghty (Baldoyle)
57kg Labhaoise Clarke (Carndonagh)
60kg Marguerita Nevin (St.Brigid’s, Kildare)
63kg Katelynn Phelan (St.Brigid’s, Kildare)
69kg Shannon Reilly (Bray)
75kg Lauren Kelly (St.Brigid’s, Edenderry) (Bronze, at least)
Junior
46kg Ciara Brien (St David’s, Naas)
48kg Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry)
50kg Catherine Blaney (Navan)
52kg Mary Kate Nevin (Elite, Mullingar)
54kg Chloe McDaid (Illies, Golden Gloves)
57kg Niamh Fay (Bracken)
63kg Evelyn Igharo (Clann Naofa)
75kg Aoibhe Carabine (Geesala)
Team Manager: Bernie Harold
Head coach: Jimmy Payne
Coaches: Ger McDaid, Antoinette Faye-McClean, Liam Brereton
R & J: John Casey