HARRINGTON JOINS WALSH IN EUROPEAN SEMI-FINALS

Kellie Harrington guaranteed Ireland at least a second bronze at the European Women’s Elite Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria today.

The Dublin lightweight beat Iulia Tsyplakova to join Michaela Walsh in Monday’s semi-finals.

Harrington earned a 4-1 split decision over the Ukrainian this afternoon.

She’ll now meet Finland’s Mira Potkonen, who beat Katie Taylor at the Rio Olympics, in the last-four on Monday.

The Finn, beaten five times by Taylor before the Rio shock, saw off Poland’s Aneta Rygielska in today’s corresponding 60kg semi-final.

Walsh is in against Russia’s Daria Abramova in the 57kg semi-final on Monday.

A two-time Commonwealth finalist and the current European Union feather champion, the Belfast feather has won three fights in Sofia this week.

Today’s win was Harrington’s second in two days in the Bulgaria capital.

Sunday is a rest day at the 11th edition of the Women’s European Elites. The semi-finals and finals will be decided on Monday and Tuesday.

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) v Daria Abramova (Russia)
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v Mira Potkonen (Finland)

Irish squad

57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown) (Bronze, at least)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s) (Bronze, at least)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)

Team Manager: Bernard Dunne
Head Coach: Zaur Antia
Coach: Dmitry Dmitruk
Physio: Muireann Harte
R&J: Sadie Duffy