Dean Gardiner claimed victory from tonight’s European Elite Championships box-off with Martin Keenan of the Rathkeale BC in Limerick at Dublin’s National Stadium.
The Tipperary super-heavyweight, the 2015 National Elite champion, earned a 4-1 split decision over the current Elite champion after three close rounds.
Gardiner, who boxes out of the Clonmel BC, will now represent Ireland at 91kg+ at the 42nd edition of the European Championships in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Team Ireland leave for their final training camp in Kharkiv next Monday.
Ireland will use a nine-strong squad at the tournament which is the only qualifier for the World Elite Championships in Hamburg, Germany in August/September.
Boxing begins on June 16th in the Ukraine.
Box-Off National Stadium Dublin
May 31st
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) beat Martin Keenan (Rathkeale) 4-1
European Elite Men’s Championships Kharkiv, Ukraine June 14th/25th
Irish squad
52kg – Flyweight – Brendan Irvine (St Pauls)
56kg – Bantamweight – Kurt Walker (Canal)
60kg – Lightweight – Patrick Mongan (Olympic)
64kg – Light-welter – Sean McComb (Holy Trinity)
69kg – Welterweight – Steven Donnelly (All Saints)
75kg – Middleweight – Emmett Brennan (Glasnevin)
81kg – Light-heavy – Joe Ward (Moate)
91kg – Heavyweight – Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)
91+kg – Super-heavy – Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)
High-Performance Director: Bernard Dunne
Team manager: Gerry O’Mahony
Head Coach: Zaur Antia
Coaches: Dmitry Dimitruc, Jimmy Payne, Eoin Pluck
Physio: Seamus Caffrey
Doctor: Jim Clover
Strength & Conditioning: John Cleary
Performance Analysis: Alan Swanton