Jude Gallagher has his hand raised in victory today
Irish male captain Jude Gallagher is guaranteed at least bronze at the AIBA World Men’s and Women’s Youth Championships in Hungary.
The Irish light-fly beat Brazil’s Rafael Bianchi on a unanimous decision in the quarter-finals this afternoon to secure Ireland’s first medal of the tournament in Budapest.
Today’s victory improves Ireland’s all-time haul at this level to 22 since Eamonn Loughran (silver) and Denis Galvin (bronze) finished in podium positions at the World Youths in Cuba in 1987.
Gallagher completely dominated today’s encounter, the on-fire Tyrone teen earning two 10-8 rounds in a 30-26,30-26,30-27,30-27,30-27 victory. Head shots, body shots, jabs, hooks and footwork, you name it, Gallagher delivered it, with with his best work coming in rounds one and two.
Irish team managers Stephen Connolly and Tara Mari Robins hailed his performance against the South American Games silver medallist.
“An absolutely brilliant performance from Jude, very impressive,” said Connolly. “He will take a lot of confidence from this win going into the semi-finals.”
Meantime, Daina Moorehouse will be aiming to join Gallagher on the medals podium from her quarter-final tomorrow and Irish female captain Lauren Kelly is in last 16 action. European Youth champion Moorehouse meets Thai light-fly Nillda Meekoon, the 2018 Asian Confederation finalist, and European medallist Kelly is in against French middleweight Tallya Brillaux, also a European medallist, for a place in the quarter-finals.
Dom O’Rourke, President of the IABA, arrived in Budapest this morning and was at ringside for Gallagher’s quarter-final.
August 23
Last 32
51kg Caitlin Fryers (Ireland) lost to Kittiya Nampa (Thailand) 1-4
Last 16
49kg Jude Gallagher (Ireland) beat Renuex Zhao (China) 5-0
August 22
Last 32
56kg Brandon McCarthy (Ireland) lost to Kumar Akash (India) 0-5
Last 16
48kg Daina Moorehouse (Ireland) beat Marta Lopez Del Arbol (Spain) 4-1
August 21
Last 32
57kg:Dearbhla Rooney (Ireland) lost to Panpatchara Somnuek (Thailand) 2-3
52kg:Dean Clancy (Ireland) lost to Asa Stevens (USA) 2-3
August 25
Q/Final
49kg Jude Gallagher (Ireland) beat Rafael Bianchi (Brazil) 5-0
August 26
Q/Final
48kg Daina Moorehouse (Ireland) v Nillda Meekoon (Thailand) (afternoon)
Last 16
August 28
S/Finals
49kg Jude Gallagher (Ireland) v Thitisan Panmod (Thailand)
Irish squad
Female
75kg Lauren Kelly (St Brigid’s Edenderry) Cpt
Male
56kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michael’s Athy)
Team managers: Stephen Connolly and Tara Mari Robins