Niamh Fay guaranteed Ireland a first bronze medal at the European Youths in Sofia today.
The Swords BC bantam beat Turkey’s Gudagi Aycan on a unanimous decision – 30-25 across the board – with Aycan receiving two public warnings for holding.
Irish team manager Anna Moore and coach Billy McClean hailed: “We have one (bronze) in the bag. It was a comprehensive win and a brilliant performance from Niamh,” said McClean.
William Hayden produced a performance worthy of a quarter-final spot versus Dmitry Zakharov but the judges opted for the Russian welter 29-28 across the board.
The Dubliner found the target with the majority of cleaner shots and took the fight to his talented opponent throughout a tight contest.
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Jake Tucker and Georgi Gustav went about their business hammer and tong in all three rounds with the Georgian getting the decision after a toe-to-toe middleweight battle.
Meanwhile, every bout that Ireland will be involved in from here on in will have a bronze medal, at least, attached.
Click here for program. Boxing begins at 4pm (Irish time).
Daina Moorehouse, the 2018 European Youth champion, gets the quarter-finals underway at 4.15pm (Irish time).
Nicole Clyde, Lauren Dempsey-Fitzmaurice, Leah Gallen, Lisa O’Rourke, whose elder sister Aoife claimed European Elite gold last Saturday in Madrid, and Bethany Doocey fight for places in the semi-finals.
(Image: Irish boxers and staff after weigh-in this morning)
2019 European Men’s and Women’s Championships Sofia, Bulgaria
September 7
Last 16
69kg William Hayden (Ireland) lost to Dmitry Zakharov (Russia) 0-5
75kg Jake Tucker (Ireland) lost to Georgi Gustav (Georgia) 0-5
Q/Finals
48kg Daina Moorehouse (Ireland) v Rim Bennama (France)
51kg Nicole Clyde (Ireland) v Simran Kaur (England)
54kg Niamh Fay (Ireland) beat Gudagi Aycan (Turkey) 5-0
57kg Lauren Dempsey-Fitzmaurice (Ireland) v Anna Maria Petrova (Bulgaria)
69kg Leah Gallen (Ireland) v Gulcan Arga (Turkey)
75kg Lisa O’Rourke (Ireland) v Georgina Schinte (Romania)
81kg Bethany Doocey (Ireland) v Emily Asquith (England)
September 8
Q/Finals
56kg Dean Clancy (Ireland) v Muhamad Adan (England)
91kg Jack Marley (Ireland) v Wilfred Florentin (France)
September 9
S/Finals
54kg Niamh Fay (Ireland) v Bianca Cabzaru (Romania)
Results
September 6
Last 16
51kg Nicole Clyde (Ireland) beat Juna Schop (Netherlands) 5-0
54kg Niamh Fay (Ireland) beat Sharon Prisco (Italy) 5-0
56kg Dean Clancy (Ireland) beat Artur Shakhpazyan (Armenia) 5-0
60kg Brandon McCarthy (Ireland) lost to Shalva Sajaia (Georgia) 2-3
64kg Evelyn Igharo (Ireland) lost to Paige Richardson (England) 0-5
75kg Lisa O’Rourke (Ireland) beat Ivona Drnic (Croatia) 4-1
91kg Jack Marley (Ireland) beat Bernhard Rentmeister (Germany) 5-0
September 5
Last 16
49kg Ryan Dunne (Ireland) lost to Rudolf Garnoyan (Armenia) 0-4
57kg Lauren Dempsey-Fitzmaurice (Ireland) beat Mirela Nastase (Romania) RSC1
60kg Sinainn Glynn (Ireland) lost to Amina Abramova (Ukraine) 1-4
69kg Leah Gallen (Ireland) beat Annemarie Schierle (Germany) 3-2
91+kg Owney McDonagh (Ireland) lost to Ugur Aydemir (Turkey) 0-5
Last 32
75kg Jake Tucker (Ireland) beat Vladimir Bezdenezznyich (Germany) 4-1
September 4
Last 32
52kg Jude Gallagher (Ireland) lost to Ali Dahly (Ukraine) 2-3
60kg Brandon McCarthy (Ireland) beat Eldar Babayev (Azerbaijan) 5-0
64kg Matthew Tyndall (Ireland) lost to Mehmet Aydemir (Turkey) 1-4
69kg William Hayden (Ireland) beat Arsen Grigoryan (Armenia) 3-2
81kg Jason Myers (Ireland) lost to Ilia Bogatyrev (Russia) 1-4
Irish squad
Male
49kg Ryan Dunne (Jobstown)
52kg Jude Gallagher (Two Castles)
56kg Dean Clancy (Sean McDermott)
60kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michael’s Athy)
64kg Matthew Tyndall (Dublin Docklands)
69kg William Hayden (Crumlin)
75kg Jake Tucker (Emerald, Antrim)
81kg Jason Myers (Titans)
91kg Jack Marley (Monkstown D)
91+kg Owen McDonagh (St Annes)
Female
48kg Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry)
51kg Nicole Clyde (Antrim)
54kg Niamh Fay (Swords)(Bronze, at least)
57kg Lauren Dempsey-Fitzmaurice (Ryston)
60kg Sinainn Glynn (Cloghan)
64kg Evelyn Igharo (Clann Naofa)
69kg Leah Gallen (Raphoe)
75kg Lisa O’Rourke (Castlerea)
81kg Bethany Doocey (Castlebar)
Officials
IABA President: Dominic O’Rourke
Team Managers: Patrick Osborne & Anna Moore
Coaches: William McClean, Aoife Hennigan, Anita Just, Brian Barry, Liam Cunningham