Kellie Harrington (red) in action
Kellie Harrington had to settle for bronze at the European Women’s Elite Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria today
The Dublin lightweight was beaten on a 4-1 split decision in the semi-finals of the tournament by Finland’s Rio 2016 bronze medallist Mira Potkonen.
Neither woman dominated a tight but open contest. Dublin-native Harrington, switching from southpaw to orthodox and back, found the target with crisp jabs in all three rounds; Potkonen responding with solid combinations.
Harrington impressed with an excellent left straight right down the middle in the third, but Potkonen, who beat Katie Taylor at the Rio Olympics, again replied with combinations
approaching the ten second clapper for the end of the round and the bout, a repeat of the 20017 EU final which the Finn won
Harrington will be bringing home bronze from Sofia and also a ticket for the 2019 European Games as the 11th edition of the European Women’s Elites is a qualifier for Games which will be hosted in Belarus. The top ten in the lightweight class in Bulgaria qualify.
Michaela Walsh, the current EU champion, lost to Russian feather Daria Abramova on a 3-2 split decision in the last-four this afternoon.
Abramova beat Potkonen in the 2016 European lightweight final but has since dropped down to feather.
European Women’s Elite Championships Sofia, Bulgaria
June 5
Last 32
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Karriss Artingstal (England) 5-0
June 6
Last 16
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Alessia Mesiano (Italy) 5-0
June 7
Last 16
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Katerina Humlova (Czech Republic) 5-0
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) lost to Iaroslava Iakushina (Russia) 0-5
June 8
Q/Final
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Helina Bruyevich (Belarus) 3-2
June 9
Q/Final
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Iulia Tsyplakova (Ukraine) 4-1
June 11
S/Final
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) lost to Daria Abramova (Russia) 2-3
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) lost to Mira Potkonen (Finland) 1-4
Irish squad
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown) (Bronze)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s) (Bronze)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)
Team Manager: Bernard Dunne
Head Coach: Zaur Antia
Coach: Dmitry Dmitruk
Physio: Muireann Harte
R&J: Sadie Duffy