Cork and Limerick southpaws Michael Faulkner and James Donovan, pictured above with Irish coaching staff, upgraded their guaranteed bronze to at least silver after beating Hungary’s Laslo Balogh and Italy’s Alfredo Simone in today’s semi-finals at the European Schoolboy and Schoolgirl Championships in Albena, Bulgaria.
Curtis Darcy, pictured below after his win, is also within striking distance of gold after a stunning victory.
But there was last-four disappointed for John Fay and Tyler Meade who lost out to England and Russia. Big performances from both young men in very close bouts.
Faulkner, who is coached by Barcelona 1992 Olympian Paul Buttimer and staff at the Northside BC, showed tremendous class to see off the brave challenge of Hungary’s Laslo Balogh and Donovan, who boxes out of the Our Lady of Lourdes BC dominated against Italy’s Alfredo Simone.
Darcy, meanwhile, was giving away a big height and reach advantage to Ukraine’s Yehor Tkachenko – but the Irish champion wasn’t giving away any heart, skill or technique.
The Tipperary-born middle, who boxes out of the Callan BC in Kilkenny, consistently found the target in all three rounds this afternoon en route to a unanimous decision.
IABA President Dominic O’Rourke and team managers Jennifer O’Sullivan and Martin Fennessey hailed the performances of Ireland’s boxers today.
Eight Irish boxers will be competing in Tuesday’s European finals in a first in the 107-year history of Irish boxing.
As things stand, eight silver, at least, and six bronze medals are in the bag.
Team Ireland are due to arrive home via Dublin Airport at 10am (Terminal 1) on Wednesday morning.
Irish amateur boxing is proudly sponsored by Liffey Crane.
European Schoolboy & Schoolgirl Championships Albena, Bulgaria May 21/30
Monday, May 28th
S/Finals
40kg Michael Faulkner (Ireland) beat Laslo Balogh (Hungary) 5-0
50kg James Donovan (Ireland) beat Alfredo Simone (Italy) 5-0
54kg John Fay (Ireland) lost to Matthew Knipe (England) 0-5
72kg Tyler Meade (Ireland) lost to Daniil Kolotov (Russia) 0-5
76kg Curtis Darcy (Ireland) beat Yehor Tkachenko (Ukraine) 5-0
Tuesday, May 29thFinals
40kg Michael Faulkner (Ireland) v Anton Avdienko (Russia)
50kg James Donovan (Ireland) v Barney Smith-Ryston (England)
54kg Yasmin Meredith (Ireland) v Arina Vostrikova (Russia)
57kg Kaci Crowley (Ireland) v Sofia Pelevina (Russia)
63kg Winne Christina McDonagh (Ireland) v Alina Safina (Russia)
67kg Dearbhla Tinnelly (Ireland) v Kraisimara Voykova (Bulgaria)
70kg Nasya McJin-Igelige (Ireland) v Valeria Vorontosova (Russia)
76kg Curtis Darcy (Ireland) v Bekkham Alimkhanov (Russia)
May 26th
Q/Finals
38.5kg Martin Collins (Ireland) lost to Anton Avdienko (Russia) 0-5
40kg Michael Faulkner (Ireland) beat Olek Levchenko (Ukraine) 5-0
41.5kg William Faulkner (Ireland) lost to Bogdan Priima (Russia) 2-3
43kg Jason Nevin (Ireland) lost to Shane Patterson (England) 2-3
46kg Cale Brennan (Ireland) lost Indir Vracic (Serbia) 1-4
S/Finals
36kg Katie O’Keeffe (Ireland) lost to Renata Mingalimova (Russia) 0-5
42kg Nora Jackman (Ireland) lost to Daria Kostkinia (Russia) 0-5
45kg Robyn Kelly (Ireland) lost to Alena Tremasova (Russia) 0-5
48kg Robyn Murran (Ireland) lost to Charan Dhesi (England) 0-5
54kg Yasmin Meredith (Ireland) beat Maria Mica (Romania) RSC2
57kg Kaci Crowley (Ireland) beat Rosalia Cataldo (Italy) RSC2
63kg Winne Christina McDonagh (Ireland) beat Sunniva Hofstad (Norway) 3-2
67kg Dearbhla Tinnelly (Ireland) beat Alena Krinichnaia (Russia) 5-0
70kg Nasya McJin-Igelige (Ireland) beat Karine Araptican (Ukraine) 5-0
May 25thQ/Finals
48kg Michael Connors (Ireland) lost to Caider Abduraimov (Ukraine) 0-5
50kg James Donovan (Ireland) beat Dzhem Demirev (Bulgaria) 5-0
54kg John Fay (Ireland) beat Mikita Harbuz (Belarus) 5-0
62kg Ryan Murphy (Ireland) lost to Mykola Serov (Ukraine) 0-5
65kg Joe Hutchinson (Ireland) lost to Irakli Janelidze (Georgia) 0-5
72kg Tyler Meade (Ireland) beat Milon Tibic (Serbia) 5-0
76kg Curtis Darcy Ireland) beat Malyas Nagyos (Romania) 4-1
80kg Patrick McDonagh (Ireland) lost to Oleg Ilchenko (Ukraine) 0-5
May 24thLast 16
38.5kg Martin Collins (Ireland) beat Anton Salika (Belarus) 3-2
40kg Michael Faulkner (Ireland) beat Gocha Gordulava (Georgia) 5-0
44.5kg Conor Donovan (Ireland) lost to Dominik Mucska (Hungary) 2-3
68kg Feidhlim Behan (Ireland) lost to Tymofii Krupko (Ukraine) 1-4
Q/Finals
39kg Sophie Elstone (Ireland) lost to Polina Spirna (Russia) RSC2
42kg Nora Jackman (Ireland) beat Viktoria Danielova (Slovakia) 5-0
45kg Robyn Kelly (Ireland) beat Lyuba Atanasova (Bulgaria) RSC2
48kg Robyn Murran (Ireland) beat Izabella Devenyi (Hungary) 3-2
51kg Labhaoise Glynn (Ireland) lost to Francesca Falconeri (Italy) 0-5
54kg Yasmin Meredith (Ireland) beat Sophia Mazzoni (Italy) RSCI2
57kg Kaci Crowley (Ireland) beat Lucia Simulescu (Romania) 5-0
May 23rdLast 16
41.5kg William Faulkner (Ireland) beat Georgis Georgantzas (Greece) 5-0
43kg Jason Nevin (Ireland) beat Serghei Nova (Moldova) 5-0
46kg Cale Brennan (Ireland) beat Denys Rosdolskyi (Ukraine) 4-1
52kg Brannon McMahon (Ireland) lost to Volodymyr Kamaieve (Ukraine) 0-5
54kg John Fay (Ireland) beat Dovydas Paskevicius (Lithuania) 5-0
56kg James McGuinness (Ireland) lost to Iskren Mihaylov (Bulgaria) 1-4
59kg Thomas McAleer (Ireland) lost to Savelii Suprunets (Ukraine) 0-5
Q/Final
91kg Martin McDonagh (Ireland) lost to Kyrylo Novika (Ukraine) 0-5
May 22nd
60kg Laura Moran (Ireland) lost to Abby Briggs (England) 2-3
48kg Michael Connors (Ireland) beat Nedas Grigorianas (Lithuania) 3-2
50kg James Donovan (Ireland) beat Krisztian Balagh (Hungary) 4-0
Irish squadBoys
38.5kg Martin Collins (Drimnagh)
40kg Michael Faulkner (Northside) (Silver, at least)
41.5kg William Faulkner (Rathkeale)
43kg Jason Nevin (Olympic Mullingar)
44.5kg Conor Donovan (Clonmel)
46kg Cale Brennan (St Michaels Athy) Cpt
48kg Michael Connors (St Marys Dublin)
50kg James Donovan (O.L.O.L.) (Silver, at least)
52kg Brannon McMahon (Carrickmore)
54kg John Fay (Swords) (Bronze)
56kg James McGuinness (St Monics)
59kg Thomas McAleer (Swords)
62kg Ryan Murphy (Neilstown)
65kg Joe Hutchinson (Neilstown)
68kg Feidhlim Behan (Kilcullen)
72kg Tyler Meade (Kilnamanagh) (Bronze)
76kg Curtis Darcy (Callan) (Silver, at least)
80kg Patrick McDonagh (St Josephs)
Girls
36kg Katie O’Keeffe (Kanturk) (Bronze)
39kg Sophia Elstone (Ardnaree)
42kg Nora Jackman (Paulstown) (Bronze)
45kg Robyn Kelly (Ballynacargy) Cpt (Bronze)
48kg Robyn Murran (St Brigids Kildare) (Bronze)
51kg Labhaoise Glynn (Cloghan)
54kg Yasmin Meredith (Glasnevin) (Silver, at least)
57kg Kaci Crowley (Erne) (Silver, at least)
60kg Laura Moran (St Annes)
63kg Winne Christina McDonagh (Neilstown) (Silver, at least)
67kg Dearbhla Tinnelly (Clann Naofa) (Silver, at least)
70kg Nasya McJin-Igelige (Clann Naofa) (Silver, at least)
IABA President: Dominic O’Rourke
Team Managers: Martin Fennessey and Jennifer O’Sullivan
Coaches: Liam Brereton, Jim O’Neill, Eva Carr, John Gallagher, Tom Hayes
R&J: Brian Wallace
