
Irish team at today’s semi-finals
Irish women’s boxing is guaranteed a fistful of silver medals after five wins at the European Schoolboy and Schoolgirl Championships semi-finals in Albena, Bulgaria today.
Yasmin Meredith, Kaci Crowley, Winnie Cristina McDonagh, Dearbhla Tinnelly and Nasya McJin-Igelige upgraded their guaranteed bronze to at least silver this afternoon.
Meredith and Crowley recorded inside the distance victories – both on second round stoppages – over Romania and Italy and McDonagh, Tinnelly and McJin-Igelige took the points route to victory.
Tinnelly is the only Irish boxer that won’t be meeting a Russian opponent for gold on Tuesday – because she eliminated that particular threat after beating Russia’s Alena Krinichnaia today following a top drawer performance.
McDonagh beat Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad to book a ticket into the finals, the Irish champion earning a well-deserved split decision over the young lady from the Land of the Midnight Sun, and McJin-Igelige pulled out all the stops to complete the high-five versus Karine Araptican of the Ukraine.
Irish captain Robyn Kelly, Katie O’Keeffe, Nora Jackman and Roby Murran lost out at the last four-stage today. The Irish quartet gave it absolutely everything for the cause and will be bringing home bronze from Bulgaria.
Meanwhile, the boys in green are in action in today’s quarter-finals with bronze medals up for grabs. Boxing begins at 3.30pm (Irish time).
European Schoolboy & Schoolgirl Championships Albena, Bulgaria May 21/30
May 26th
Q/Finals
46kg Cale Brennan (Ireland) v Indir Vracic (Serbia)
S/Finals
70kg Nasya McJin-Igelige (Ireland) beat Karine Araptican (Ukraine) 5-0
Monday, May 28th
S/Finals
76kg Curtis Darcy Ireland) v Yehor Tkachenko (Ukraine)
Tuesday, May 29th
Finals
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)
(Ireland’s opponents to be 100% confirmed)
May 25th
Q/Finals
80kg Patrick McDonagh (Ireland) lost to Oleg Ilchenko (Ukraine) 0-5
May 24th
Last 16
68kg Feidhlim Behan (Ireland) lost to Tymofii Krupko (Ukraine) 1-4
Q/Finals
57kg Kaci Crowley (Ireland) beat Lucia Simulescu (Romania) 5-0
May 23rd
Last 16
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
Last 16
50kg James Donovan (Ireland) beat Krisztian Balagh (Hungary) 4-0
Irish squad
Boys
91kg Martin McDonagh (Ballyhaunis)
Girls
70kg Nasya McJin-Igelige (Clann Naofa) (Silver, at least)
IABA President: Dominic O’Rourke