Team Ireland’s European U23 Team has been shortlisted for the HerSport Awards Team of the Year accolade.
The Team brought home 6 medals from the European Championships in Budapest in November: silver for 57kg Natalia Fasciszewska, following a thrilling final against Paris Olympics silver medalist, Poland’s Julia Szeremeta.
5 of her team mates were bestowed with bronze medals: 48kg Tiffany Spencer (Jobstown BC, Dublin), 60kg Rebecca Kavanagh (Mulhuddart BC, Dublin), 65kg Ava Henry (Dublin Docklands), 80+kg Cliona D’Arcy (Tobar Pheadair BC in Galway) and 50kg Louis Rooney (Star BC, Belfast), while half of the 16 strong team lost to the eventual champions.
8 members of the team lost to the eventual champion and they are: 48kg Tiffany Spencer, 54kg Robyn Kelly, 57kg Natalia Fasciszewska, 60kg Rebecca Kavanagh, 65kg Ava Henry, 50kg Louis Rooney, 60kg Gavin Ryan and 65kg Roy Colgan
The Team is nominated alongside Athlone Town; Dublin LGFA; Galway Camogie; Ireland Deaf Women’s Futsal Team; Ireland Hockey; Ireland Eventing & Show Jumping; Ireland Mixed Double Sculls; Ireland Para Triathlon Team; Ireland Rugby 15’s and Ireland Soccer
Also nominated for the HerSport Athlete of the Year Award is World Champion, Aoife O’Rourke. Aoife’s outstanding achievements in 2025 are unprecedented and may well be unrepeatable: She won World silver in March at the IBA Women’s World Championships, and 6 months later almost to the day, World gold at the World Boxing Championships. Boxing’s changing standing global governance landscape means this feat may not be replicable by any other Irish boxer, ever. On her journey in to the annals of Irish boxing lore in Liverpool, Aoife defeated Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad, the only boxer in the world this year to have won gold at every World Boxing Cup. Aoife is nominated along side Clare Melia (Basketball), Ellen Walsh (Swimming), Fiona Murtagh (Rowing), Hannah Tyrell (Football), Kate O’Connor (Heptathlon), Katie McCabe (Soccer), Lara Gillespie (Cycling), Orla Comerford (Para Athletics), Sarah Healy (Athletics)
Vote
You can vote for Team Ireland European U23 Team and Aoife here: https://awards.hersport.ie/. The winner will be announced at a gala event on January 23rd.
Team Ireland
48kg Tiffany Spencer, Jobstown BC, Dublin
51kg Rachel Lawless, St. Brigid’s BC, Offaly
54kg Robyn Kelly, Ballynacargy Boxing Club, Westmeath
57kg Natalia Fascizewska, Castlebar BC, Mayo
60kg Rebecca Kavanagh, Mulhuddart BC, Dublin
65kg Ava Henry, Dublin Docklands BC
80+kg Cliona D’Arcy, Tobar Pheadair BC, Galway
50kg Louis Rooney, Star ABC, Belfast
55kg Pasty Joyce, Olympic BC, Westmeath
60kg Gavin Ryan, Ratoath BC, Meath
65kg Roy Colgan, Avona BC, Dublin
70kg Ryan Jenkins, Jobstown BC, Dublin
75kg Tadgh O’Donnell, Jobstown BC, Dublin
80kg James Whelan, Dublin Docklands BC
85kg Sean Mackay Trant, Monkstown BC, Dublin
90kg Garyn McAllister, North Down BC, Down
Support Staff
Team Manager: High Peformance Director, Jon Mackey
Coaches: James Doyle, Lynne McEnery, Jay Delaney, Ross Hickey (Grangecon BC, Wicklow/Defence Forces) and Paul Simpson (Saviours Crystal, Waterford)
Physio: Paddy O’Donnell and Rian Furley
Athlete Support: Aidan Walsh
R&J: Garry McGillion (Bishop Kelly BC, Tyrone)