STRANDJA MULTI-NATIONS FINAL

24/01/2020IABA NewsIABA

Kellie Harrington and Finland’s Mira Potkonen go head-to-head in the Strandja multi-nations 60kg final in Sofia tomorrow.

Both lightweights will be in the ring at approximately 12.30pm (Irish time) on Saturday.

Harrington beat Bulgaria’s Denica Eliseeva on a unanimous decision today – 30-27 on all five cards – to upgrade her guaranteed bronze to at least silver.

But Roscommon middleweight Aoife O’Rourke had to settle for bronze after dropping a unanimous decision – 30-27 on all five cards – to Naomi Graham of the USA.

“It was a great performance from Aoife against a very experienced Pan Am champ and world medalist,” said USA head coach Billy Walsh.

Please see below attachment for Saturday’s program.

C58D0125.CP (1)

(Image, Kellie Harrington has her hand raised in victory today. Image courtesy of Tibor Kincses)

Strandja Multi-Nations Sofia, Bulgaria January 20/25

January 25

Finals

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) versus Mira Potkonen (Finland)

January 24

S/Finals

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Denica Eliseeva (Bulgaria) 5-0
60kg Mira Potkonen (Finland) beat Agnes Alexiusson (Sweden) 5-0
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) lost to Naomi Graham (USA) 0-5
75kg Davina Michel (France) beat Anastasiia Chernoklenko (Ukraine) 5-0

January 23

Q/Finals

51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Virginia Fuchs (USA) 0-5
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) lost to Sonia Lather (India) 2-3
57kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) lost to Mykola Buysenko (Ukraine) 1-4
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Hanna Okheri (Ukraine) 5-0
63kg George Bates (Ireland) lost to Shiva Thapa (India) 0-5
69kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) lost to Jones Oshae (USA) W/O
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) beat Flavia Figuerdo (Brazil) 3-2

January 22

Last 16

51kg Carly McNaul (Ireland) lost to Olena Savchuk (Italy) 0-5
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) beat Rabab Cheddar (Morocco) 5-0
57kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Carlos Rocha (Brazil) 5-0
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Jenifer Fernandez (Spain) 5-0
57kg Dean Clancy (Ireland) lost to Francesco Maietta (Italy) Pts
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Aneta Rygielska (Poland) 5-0
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) lost to Mira Potkonen (Finland) 0-5
63kg George Bates (Ireland) beat Shpetin Bajoku (Kosova) Pts
63kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) lost to Paolo Di Lernia (Italy) Pts
69kg Aidan Walsh (Ireland) lost to Johnson Delante (USA) Pts
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) lost to Sing Negi (India) 0-5
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) lost to Herbert Souza (Brazil) 2-3
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) lost to Nikolaz Begadze (Georgia) W/O

January 21

Last 32 and 16

51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) beat Johanna Wonyou (France) 5-0
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Gutierrez Guadaloupe (USA) 3-2
63kg George Bates (Ireland) beat Lounes Hamraoui (France) 3-2
69kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) beat Beatriz Soares (Brazil) 4-1
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) beat Love Holgersson (Sweden) 5-0
81kg Emmett Brennan (Ireland) lost to Stepan Hrekul (Ukraine) 1-4
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) beat Victor Schelstraette (Belgium) 3-2
91+kg Antione O Griofa (Ireland) lost to Clemente Russo (Italy) 0-5

Irish squad

Female

51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan) and Carly McNaul (Holy Family)

57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown, Antrim)

60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s) and Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)

69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)

75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea)

Male

57kg Kurt Walker (Canal) and Dean Clancy (Sean McDermott)

63kg George Bates (St Mary’s) and Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise)

69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown, Antrim) and Kieran Molloy (Oughterard)

75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise)

81kg Emmet Brennan (Dublin Docklands)

91kg Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield)

91kg+ Antoine O’Griofa (Celtic Eagles)

Staff

High-Performance Director: Bernard Dunne

Coaches: Zaur Antia, John Conlan, Dmitry Dimitruk, JP Kinsella

Physio: Lorcan McGee

Physiologist: Damien Martin

HARRINGTON WINS BUT O’ROURKE BOWS OUT IN SOFIA

24/01/2020IABA NewsIABA

Kellie Harrington is through to the lightweight final at the Strandja multi-nations following an impressive victory over Denica Eliseeva in Sofia, Bulgaria today.

The Dubliner beat the Bulgarian, who holds a decision over Katie Taylor from the 2011 Strandja final, on a unanimous decision.

But Roscommon middleweight Aoife O’Rourke had to settle for bronze after losing to Naomi Graham of the USA.

“Excellent performance from Kellie,” said Bernard Dunne, IABA High-Performance Director.

Boxing well within herself in a composed performance from an athlete in her third fight in successive days since returning from a hand injury sustained at the European Games last June, Harrington won all three rounds.

The 2018 World Elite champion found the target with right hooks and solid combinations throughout today’s encounter. Eliseeva threatened with left hooks but never really troubled the Irishwoman.

Harrington will be back between the ropes boxing for gold tomorrow versus Finland’s Mira Potkonen.

O’Rourke and Naomi Graham traded leather from the opening to the closing bell, with the Irishwoman ending the second round well and impressing for the first minute of the third.

Both women finished strong going down the final stretch, but the American advanced at the expense of the European titlist on a unanimous verdict.

Saturday’s finals begin at 12pm (Irish time).

Strandja Multi-Nations Sofia, Bulgaria January 20/25

January 25

Final

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) versus Mira Potkonen (Finland)

January 24

S/Finals

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Denica Eliseeva (Bulgaria) 5-0
60kg Mira Potkonen (Finland) beat Agnes Alexiusson (Sweden) Pts
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) lost to Naomi Graham (USA) 0-5
75kg Davina Michel (France) beat Anastasiia Chernoklenko (Ukraine) Pts

January 23

Q/Finals

January 22

Last 16

January 21

Last 32 and 16

Irish squad

Female

51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan) and Carly McNaul (Holy Family)

57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown, Antrim)

60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s) (Silver, at least)

60kg Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)

69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)

75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea) (Bronze)

Male

57kg Kurt Walker (Canal) and Dean Clancy (Sean McDermott)

63kg George Bates (St Mary’s) and Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise)

69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown, Antrim) and Kieran Molloy (Oughterard)

75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise)

81kg Emmet Brennan (Dublin Docklands)

91kg Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield)

91kg+ Antoine O’Griofa (Celtic Eagles)

Staff

High-Performance Director: Bernard Dunne

Coaches: Zaur Antia, John Conlan, Dmitry Dimitruk, JP Kinsella

Physio: Lorcan McGee

Physiologist: Damien Martin

NATIONAL U/18 CHAMPIONSHIPS SEMI-FINALS

24/01/2020IABA NewsIABA

The remaining semi-finals at the National U/18 Championships will be completed at the National Stadium tonight.

Boxing begins at 6.30pm.

The contests will complete the line ups for the finals on January 31.

The IABA is using the tournament to assist with their selection process for the European Men’s and Women’s Youth Championships in Budva, Montenegro in April.

Friday’s weigh-ins will be held between 8am and 9am and 12pm and 1pm at the National Stadium.

National U/18 Men’s and Women’s Championships National Stadium Dublin

January 24

S/Finals (6.30pm)

60kg Aodhan Byrne (Kilcullen) v Cain Lewis (Ballymun)
60kg Cahir Gormley (Illies GG) V John McConnell (Holy Trinity)
69kg Liam McMonagle (Raphoe) V James Whelan (Dublin Docklands)
69kg Emeka Onwuka (All Saints) V William Hayden (Crumlin)
75kg Eoghan Lavin (Ballyhaunis) V Frank Duffin (Monkstown Antrim)
75kg Patrick Lawlor (Brian Dillons) V Tiernan Mayse (Two Castles)
81kg Jason Myers (Titans) V Daniel Treen (Dungarvan)
81kg Zach Ribbon (St Annes) V Elimane Samba (Four Kings)
91kg John Ward (Brosna) V James Redmond (Ballybrack)
91kg Peter Maughan (Ballyhaunis) V Jack Marley (Monkstown Dublin)
91+kg Nojus Ivanauskas (St Davids Naas) V Thomas Leddy (Aglish)
91+kg Patrick Myers (Sligo City) V Bernard McDonagh (St Annes)

Friday, January 31

Finals (6.30pm)

W42kg Chloe Blake (Ardagh/Crossmolina W/O
W46kg Nicole Buckley (St Carthages ) W/O
46kg Bryce Collins (East Down) W/O
W48kg Codie Lafferty (Raphoe) V Breda Quilligan (Rathkeale)
49kg Paddy McShane (Letterkenny) V Dylan Eagleson (St Pauls Antrim)
W51kg Chloe Gabriel (Mulhuddart) V Rachel Lawless (Portlaoise)
52kg Brooklyn Saunders (Dublin Docklands) V Jake Rapple (Monkstown Dublin)
W54kg Niamh Fay (Swords) W/O
56kg Jack Connors (St Davids Nass) V Martin Brady-McCullough (Gleann)
W57kg Doireann Coogan (Marble City) W/O
W60kg Keisha Attewell (Tobar Pheadair) V Ellie Mai-Gartland (Clonmel)
60kg Winner V Winner
W64kg Leanne Murphy (Togher) V Nicole O’Sullivan (Corinthians)
64kg Matthew Tyndall (Dublin Docklands) V James McDonagh (St Pauls Waterford)
W69kg Shelby Myers (Crumlin) V Leah Gallen (Raphoe)
69kg Winner V Winner
W75kg Lisa O’Rourke (Castlerea) W/O
75kg Winner V Winner
W81kg Megan Potter (Gateway) V Bethany Doocey (Castlebar)
81kg Zack Ribbon (St Annes) V Winner
91kg Winner V Winner
91+kg Winner V Winner

Results so far

January 18

S/Finals

W48kg Breda Quilligan (Rathkeale) beat Aoife Williamson (Curragh) 3-2
49kg Paddy McShane (Letterkenny) beat Cian O’Toole (St Davids Naas) 5-0
49kg Dylan Eagleson (St Pauls Antrim) beat John Joyce (Olympic Mullingar) 5-0
W51kg Chloe Gabriel (Mulhuddart) beat Chanelle Robinson (Tipperary Town) RSC2
W51kg Rachel Lawless (Portlaoise) beat Nicole Clyde (Antrim) 5-0
52kg Jake Rapple (Monkstown Dublin) beat Joe Moorehouse (Gorey) 5-0
56kg Jack Connors (St Davids Nass) beat Danny Morgan (St Conleths) 5-0
56kg Martin Brady-McCullough (Gleann) beat Chad Magill (Glengormley) 5-0
W60kg Keisha Attewell (Tobar Pheadair) W/O
W60kg Ellie Mai-Gartland (Clonmel) beat Kaci Rock (Enniskerry) 4-1
W64kg Leanne Murphy (Togher) W/O
W64kg Nicole O’Sullivan (Corinthians) beat Mary Enright (Setanta) 5-0
64kg Matthew Tyndall (Dublin Docklands) beat James Uzell (Drimnagh) 3-2
64kg James McDonagh (St Pauls Waterford) beat David Nevin (Crumlin) 5-0
W69kg Leah Gallen (Raphoe) beat Dominika Gulli (Bracken) 5-0

January 17

S/Final

52kg Brooklyn Saunders (Dublin Docklands) beat Sean Lawlor (Marble City) 4-1

Q/Finals

W60kg Ellie Mai-Gartland (Clonmel) W/O
60kg Aodhan Byrne (Kilcullen) beat Cian Duggan (Cabra) 5-0
60kg Cain Lewis (Ballymun) beat Adam Sinnott (Rathnew) 3-2
60kg Cahir Gormley (Illies GG) beat Nathan O’Brien (Wexford CBS) 5-0
60kg John McConnell (Holy Trinity) beat Thomas McCann (St Pauls, Antrim) 5-0
91kg Peter Maughan (Ballyhaunis) beat Kristians Keiriss (Rush) RSC1:
91kg Jack Marley (Monkstown Dublin) beat John McDonagh (St Annes) RSC2;
91+kg Thomas Leddy (Aglish) W/O
91+kg Patrick Myers (Sligo City) W/O
91+kg Bernard McDonagh (St Annes) W/O

January 11

2nd Series Prelims

60kg Aodhan Byrne (Kilcullen) beat Christopher McCabe (Santry) 5-0
60kg Cian Duggan (Cabra) beat Joe Harkin (Oakleaf) 3-2
60kg Cain Lewis (Ballymun) beat Barry O’Connor (Ballyduff) 5-0
60kg Adam Sinnott (Rathnew) beat Oran Gethins (Sean McDermott) 4-1
60kg Cahir Gormley (Illies GG) W/O
60kg Nathan O’Brien (Wexford CBS) beat James Cullen (Ballagh) 5-0
60kg John O’Connell (Holy Trinity) beat Culainn Sheedy (St Marys Dublin) 5-0
60kg Thomas McCann (St Pauls Antrim) beat Joe O’Brien (Togher) 5-0

Q/Finals

56kg Danny Morgan (St Conleths) beat Jason Butler (Ballinrobe) 5-0
56kg Jack Connors (St Davids Naas) beat Adam Kinsella (St Marys NR) 4-1
56kg Chad Magill (Glengormley) beat Leon Davis (Bracken) RSC2
56kg Martin Brady-McCullough (Gleann) beat Siffie Edris (Monkstown, Dublin) 4-1
69kg Liam McMonagle (Raphoe) beat Josh Cummins (Trinity Sports) 4-1
69kg James Whelan (Dublin Docklands) W/O
69kg Emeka Onwuka (All Saints) beat Peter Clarke (Errigal) 5-0
69kg William Hayden (Crumlin) beat Darragh Gilroy (Fr Flanagans) 3-2
75kg Eoghan Lavin (Ballyhaunis) beat Edvinas Viaciakauskis (Curragh) RSC1
75kg Frank Duffin (Monkstown Antrim) beat Max Dushyk (St Pauls Waterford) 3-2
75kg Patrick Lawlor (Brian Dillons) beat Ben Farrelly (Crumlin) 5-0
75kg Tiernan Mayse (Two Castles) W/O

January 10

1st Series

60kg Culainn Sheedy (St Marys Dublin) W/O
60kg John O’Connell (Holy Trinity) beat Eoghan Quinn (St Johns Derry) 5-0
60kg Joe O’Brien (Togher) beat Daniel Clooney (Palmerstown) 5-0
60kg Thomas McCann (St Pauls Antrim) W/O

Prelims

56kg Chad Magill (Glengormley) beat Bailey Marshall (Emerald, Antrim) 5-0
56kg Leon Davis (Bracken) beat Conor Healy (Phoenix) 3-2
56kg Suffie Edris (Monkstown Dublin) beat Jake McMahon (Liberty) 5-0
56kg Martin Brady-McCullough (Gleann) beat Daire Halfpenny (Gilford) 5-0
69kg William Hayden (Crumlin) beat Luka Gureshidze (Togher) 5-0
69kg Darragh Gilroy (Fr Flanagans) beat Taylor Guiney (Drimnagh) 3-2

O/Finals

52kg Sean Lawlor (Marble City) beat Oisin Mullholland (East Down) 3-2
64kg Matthew Tyndall (Dublin Docklands) beat Steve Cairns (Legacy) 4-1
64kg James McDonagh (St Pauls Waterford) beat Patrick Donovan (Olympic Galway) 3-2
64kg David Nevin (Crumlin) W/O

STRANDJA MULTI-NATIONS SEMI-FINALS

23/01/2020IABA NewsIABA

Kellie Harrington and Aoife O’Rourke will be aiming to upgrade their guaranteed bronze medals to at least silver at the Strandja multi-nations in Sofia tomorrow.

C58D0124.CP

The Dublin lightweight and Roscommon middleweight meet Bulgaria’s Denicia Eliseeva and Naomi Graham of the USA for places in Saturday’s finals.

Boxing begins at 12pm (Irish time tomorrow). Harrington will be in the ring shortly after 1pm and O’Rourke at approximately 2pm.

Harrington beat Ukraine’s Hanna Okheri on a unanimous decision today – 30-27,30-27,30-27,30-27, 29-28.

And O’Rourke beat Brazil’s Flavia Figuerdo on a 3-2 split – 30-27,30-27,29-28, 28-29,28-29.

(Image: Harrington with Irish coaches after today’s win. Image courtesy of Tibor Kincses)

Strandja Multi-Nations Sofia, Bulgaria January 20/25

January 24

S/Finals

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v Denica Eliseeva (Bulgaria)
60kg Mira Potkonen (Finland) v Agnes Alexiusson (Sweden)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) v Naomi Graham (USA)
75kg Davina Michel (France) v Anastasiia Chernoklenko (Ukraine)

January 23

Q/Finals

January 22

Last 16

January 21

Last 32 and 16

Irish squad

Female

51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan) and Carly McNaul (Holy Family)

57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown, Antrim)

60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s) and Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)

69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)

75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea)

Male

57kg Kurt Walker (Canal) and Dean Clancy (Sean McDermott)

63kg George Bates (St Mary’s) and Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise)

69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown, Antrim) and Kieran Molloy (Oughterard)

75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise)

81kg Emmet Brennan (Dublin Docklands)

91kg Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield)

91kg+ Antoine O’Griofa (Celtic Eagles)

Staff

High-Performance Director: Bernard Dunne

Coaches: Zaur Antia, John Conlan, Dmitry Dimitruk, JP Kinsella

Physio: Lorcan McGee

Physiologist: Damien Martin

HARRINGTON AND O’ROURKE INTO STRANDJA SEMI-FINALS

23/01/2020IABA NewsIABA

Kellie Harrington has her hand raised in victory today

George Bates had to settle for a top-eight finish at the Strandja multi-nations in Sofia, Bulgaria today.

The Dubliner lost on points to Shiva Thapa despite flooring the India light-welter for a count with a sweet left hook in the second round of a fiery 63kg battle.

Bates won two fights en route to the last eight in Sofia.

Dublin’s Kellie Harrington and Roscommon’s Aoife O’Rourke are guaranteed at least bronze at the 71st edition of the tournament.

Both women won their quarter-finals versus Ukranian lightweight Hanna Okheri and Brazilian middleweight Flavia Figuerdo this afternoon.

Harrington, in her second fight back since injuring her hand at the European Games last June, earned a unanimous decision and O’Rourke advanced on a split verdict.

Earlier, Ceire Smith and Michaela Walsh bowed out at the last eight stages after being on the wrong end of unanimous and split verdicts to Virginia Fuchs of the USA and India’s Sonia Lather.

Big performances from both Irishwomen.

Cork welter Christina Desmond was withdrawn for her quarter-final with Oshae Jones of the USA after picking up a slight hand injury in her win over Beatriz Soares of Brazil on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Kurt Walker, the current European champion, was surprisingly adjudged to have lost to Ukraine’s Mykola Buysenko today. The Antrim feather was outstanding in all three rounds of an up-tempo 57kg contest.

Smith won two fights en route to the her quarter-final bout with Texas puncher Fuchs.

“She was sharp and very cute. It was a good contest, she said.

“I think my tactics from Zaur (Zaur Antia, Irish head coach) were perfect but I certainly need to implement them better. I’ll be going home with specifics to work and improve on.

“This has been a great tournament with three good contests under my belt which I will be building on the busy year ahead.”

Harrington and O’Rourke will be back between the ropes tomorrow boxing for places in Saturday’s finals.

(Image (Harrington) courtesy of Tibor Kincses)

Strandja Multi-Nations Sofia, Bulgaria January 20/25

January 23

Q/Finals

51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Virginia Fuchs (USA) 0-5
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) lost to Sonia Lather (India) 2-3
57kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) lost to Mykola Buysenko (Ukraine) 1-4
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Hanna Okheri (Ukraine) 5-0
63kg George Bates (Ireland) lost to Shiva Thapa (India) Pts
69kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) lost to Jones Oshae (USA) W/O
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) beat Flavia Figuerdo (Brazil) 3-2

January 24

S/Finals

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v Denicia Eliseeva (Bulgaria)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) v Naomi Graham (USA)

(Fixtures to be confirmed)

January 22

Last 16

January 21

Last 32 and 16

Irish squad

Female

51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan) and Carly McNaul (Holy Family)

57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown, Antrim)

60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s) and Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)

69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)

75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea)

Male

57kg Kurt Walker (Canal) and Dean Clancy (Sean McDermott)

63kg George Bates (St Mary’s) and Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise)

69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown, Antrim) and Kieran Molloy (Oughterard)

75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise)

81kg Emmet Brennan (Dublin Docklands)

91kg Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield)

91kg+ Antoine O’Griofa (Celtic Eagles)

Staff

High-Performance Director: Bernard Dunne

Coaches: Zaur Antia, John Conlan, Dmitry Dimitruk, JP Kinsella

Physio: Lorcan McGee

Physiologist: Damien Martin