Danny O’Brien had to settle for bronze at the World (CISM) Military Games in China today.

The Army heavyweight was edged on points by Kazakhstan’s Abzal Kuttybekov after the bout was stopped early in the second round after both boxers needed medical attention for cuts following an accidental clash of heads in Wuhan.

The final scores read 19-19,19-19 and 20-18,20-18,20-18 to the Kazakh who looks an injury doubt for Saturday’s final versus Uzbekistan.

O’Brien was boxing well up to the point of the stoppage and would have probably won the bout if it had gone the distance, according to the Irish staff and coaches.

The Dubliner, the last Irish boxer remaining in the tournament, won three contests in three days en route to the last four and a guaranteed medal.

Commandant Adrian Watson said that O’Brien and the Irish boxing squad performed magnificently at the tournament and that they were very proud to be taking home bronze.

Watson also praised the technical expertise of John Molloy and two-time Irish Olympian Phil Sutcliffe in the Irish corner.

The Army competed in three sports – boxing, football and shooting – at the 7th edition of the Games and, courtesy of O’Brien, won bronze.

The team are due to arrive home from China next Wednesday.

(Images, Irish squad and O’Brien with Irish staff earlier this week)

 

World (CISM) Military Games Wuhan, China

October 25

S/Final

91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) lost to Abzal Kuttybekov (Kazakhstan) 0-3

October 23

Q/Final

91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Juan Nogueira (Brazil) 5-0

October 22

Q/Finals

75kg Leona Houlihan (Ireland) lost to Viktoryia Kebikova (Belarus) RSC3

Last 16

81kg Brian Kennedy (Ireland) lost to Di Zhou (China) 0-5
91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Krenar Aliu (Finland) 5-0
91kg+ Antoine O Gríofa (Ireland) lost to Kumar Satish (India) 0-5

October 21

Last 32

91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Michel Gavaj (France) KO1

October 20

Last 16

75kg Leona Houlihan (Ireland) beat Garza Fallon (USA) W/O

Last 32

64kg Stephen Lockhart (Ireland) lost to Zang Shuang (China) 0-5
69kg Ross Hickey (Ireland) lost to Miliusha Dzmitry (Belarus) RSCI1
75kg Michael Connelly (Ireland) lost to Golembiewski Bartosz (Poland) 0-5

Irish squad

Team Manager Comdt: Adrian Watson (Roscommon)

Head coach: Sgt John Molloy (7th Batt) (Offaly)

Coach: Phil Sutcliffe

75kg: Cpl Leona Houlihan (Dublin)
64kg: Pte Stephen Lockhart (7th Dublin)
69kg: Pte, Ross Hickey (Kildare)
75kg: Lt Mike Connelly (Galway)
81kg: Tpr Brian Kennedy (Offaly)
91kg: Pte Danny O’Brien (Dublin) (Bronze)
91kg+: Pte Antoine O Gríofa (Galway)

 

 

All quarter-finals will be decided on Day 2 of the National Senior Championships at Dublin’s National Stadium on Friday evening.

Boxing begins at 6.30pm.

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

Cork’s Callum Walsh is aiming for his 7th Irish title and was happy to come through his first bout without headgear on his Senior debut in last Saturday’s Leeside derby with Ryan McCarthy of the Togher BC.

“I thought my performance was good. It’s nice to have the first fight over with especially as it was my first fight without headgear,” said the Riverstown BC light-welter.

The 2017 European Junior champion meets Emerald BC stand out Caoimhin Ferguson for a place in the last four this weekend.

“I’ll just take every fight as it comes now and in three weeks hopefully be a senior champion.”

Michael O’Connell and Jack Higgins get proceedings underway on Friday evening, while Walsh’s Riverstown BC team-mate Sean Butler is in against Antoine Manin of the Celtic Eagles BC.

The Crumlin BC has the highest representation in the weekend’s quarter-finals with Jack Higgins, Senan Dwyer, John Joe Nevin, Michel Rudolf and Johnny Sheridan between the ropes at the home of Irish boxing.

The tournament will be completed over 87 bouts.

(One walkover in 75kg class announced Thursday, October 24)

 

National Men’s and Women’s Senior Championships National Stadium Dublin

Friday, October 25

Q/Finals (6.30pm)

64kg Michael O’Donnell (Celtic Eagles) V Jack Higgins (Crumlin)
64kg Cameron Bennett (Swords) V Derek Murray (Muskerry)
64kg Caoimhin Ferguson (Emerald) V Callum Walsh (Riverstown)
64kg Evan Fitzgerald (Esker) V Gavin Bradshaw (Drimnagh)
69kg Senan Dwyer (Crumlin) V Martin Sammon (Olympic G)
69kg Matthew McDonagh (Geesala) W/O
69kg Matthew McCole (Illies GG) V Conor Reneghan (Keady)
69kg Sean Butler (Riverstown) V Antoine Manin (Celtic Eagles)
75kg Jason Harty (Rathkeale) W/O
75kg John Joe Nevin (Crumlin) V Shane O’Brien (St Francis)
75kg Daniel O’Sullivan (Lucan) V Martin Sweeney (St Catherines)
75kg Oran Shields (Illies GG) V Rokas Balrukoni (Clane)
81kg Thomas Myers (Sligo City) V Adam Mooney (St Marys Daingean)
81kg Sean Crowley (Arklow) V Philip Hickey (Paulstown)
81kg Daniel Houlihan (Kilcullen) V Conor Tighe (Ballinacarrow)
91kg Brian Mullen (St Annes) V Martin Mongans (Rathkeale)
91kg Michel Rudolf (Crumlin) W/O
91kg Johnny Sheridan (Crumlin) V Marcin Skalski (Athlone)
91kg Shane Cunningham (Fr Horgans) V Thomas Maughan (Cavan)

 

Friday, November 1

S/Finals (6.30pm)

48kg Ciara Walsh (Smithfield) V Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry)
52kg Jason Smith (Fr Flanagans) V Nathan Horrigan (Hyland Academy)
52kg Sean Kavanagh (Monkstown D) V John Cowman (St Paul’s W)
57kg Kelsey Leonard (Curragh) V Dearbhla Rooney (Sean McDermott)
57kg Jennifer Lehan (DCU) V Kellie McLoughlin (Drimnagh)
56kg Terry Donohue (St Michaels) V Jamie Griffin (Riverstown)
60kg Renee Roach (DCU) V Rivers McCormack (St Saviours OBA)
60kg Killian Geraghty (Crumlin) V Brandon McCarthy (St Michaels)
60kg Teo Alin (Cookstown) V Jack McGivern (St Georges)
64kg Winner V Winner
64kg Winner V Winner
69kg Karolina Jaglowska (Celtic Eagles)V Caroline Gallagher (Illies GG)
69kg Winner V Winner
69kg Winner V Winner
75kg Winner V Winner
75kg Winner V Winner
81kg Winner V Winner
81kg Winner V Winner
91kg Winner V Winner
91kg Winner V Winner
91+kg Martin Mongan (Corpus Christi) V Patrick Lavery (Tredagh)
91+kg Patrick Rogers (St Johns Derry) V Ciaran O’Griofa (Celtic Eagles)

Friday, November 8

Finals (6.30pm)

48kg Emma Feeney (Virginia) V Winner
49kg Sean Mari (Monkstown D) V Ricky Nesbitt (Holy Family Drogheda)
51kg Kirsten Cresham (Castlebar) V Kate Radomska (St Pauls Waterford)
52kg Winner V Winner
54kg Zara Breslin (Tramore) V Siobhan McKenna (Holy Family GG)
57kg Winner V Winner
56kg Dean Clancy (Sean McDermott) V Winner
60kg Isabella Hughes (Maynooth) V Winner
60kg Winner V Winner
64kg Evelyn Igharo (Clann Naofa) V Jaide Gibbons (Crumlin)
64kg Winner V Winner
69kg Rosie Doherty (St Francis) V Winner
69kg Winner V Winner
75kg Winner V Winner
81kg Winner V Winner
81+kg Naoise Finney (Ballybrack) V Winner
91kg Winner V Winner
91+kg Winner V Winner

 

RESULTS 

October 19

Preliminaries (12pm)

64kg Cameron Bennett (Swords) beat Aaron O’Donohue (Fr Horgans) 5-0
64kg Derek Murray (Muskerry) beat Jordan Morrissey (Athlone) 5-0
64kg Caoimhin Ferguson (Emerald) beat Craig Kavanagh (Crumlin) 4-1
64kg Callum Walsh (Riverstown) beat Ryan McCarthy (Togher) 5-0
64kg Evan Fitzgerald (Esker) W/O
64kg Gavin Bradshaw (Drimnagh) beat Daniel McCarthy (Crumlin) 4-1
69kg Matthew McCole (Illies GG) beat Christian Preston (Docklands) 5-0
69kg Conor Reneghan (Keady) beat Brandon Mulligan (Clann Naofa) 5-0
69kg Sean Butler (Riverstown) beat Jack Prenderville (St Saviours OBA) RSC3
69kg Antoine Manin (Celtic Eagles) beat Darren Shannen (Muskerry) 5-0
75kg Jason Harty (Rathkeale) beat Michael Kinsella (St Anthonys) 4-1
75kg John Joe Nevin (Crumlin) beat Jack Brady (Crumlin) 5-0
75kg Shane O’Brien (St Francis) beat Jack Lawlor (Templemore) 3-2
75kg Daniel O’Sullivan (Lucan) beat Shane Dooley (St Ibars/Josephs) 3-2
75kg Martin Sweeney (St Catherines) beat Owen Bergin (Portlaoise) 4-1
75kg Oran Shields (Illies GG) beat Adam Farrell (Fr Flanagans) 3-2
75kg Rokas Balrukoni (Clane) W/O
81kg Faolan Rahill (DCU) beat Jordan Donoghue (Drimnagh) 5-0
91kg Marcin Skalski (Athlone) beat Michael McConigley (Illies GG) 4-1
91kg Shane Cunningham (Fr Horgans) W/O
91kg Thomas Maughan (Cavan) beat Eamon Tighe (Ballinacarrow) 5-0

Q/Finals

52kg Sean Kavanagh (Monkstown D) W/O
52kg John Cowman (St Paul’s W) beat Ben Nelson (Townland) 5-0
57kg Jennifer Lehan (DCU) W/O
57kg Kellie McLoughlin (Drimnagh) beat Catherine Blaney (Navan) 5-0
60kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michaels Athy) beat John Paul Hale (Star) 5-0
60kg Teo Alin (Cookstown) beat Martin Noonan (Riverstown) 5-0
60kg Jack McGivern (St Georges) beat Andrei Alexander (Crumlin) 5-0

 

 

 

 

Danny O’Brien is guaranteed at least bronze at the World Military Games in China.

The Army heavyweight scored a sensational unanimous decision over Brazil’s Juan Nogueira this afternoon.

The final scores read 30-37,29-28,29-28,29-28,29-28 to the Dubliner (Santry BC) after a hard-punching,three-round quarter-final.

Nogueira was beaten Russia’s Evgeniy Tischenko in the last 16 at Rio 2016. Tischenko won gold at the 31st Olympiad.

O’Brien, who has now won three fights in Wuhan, will meet Kazakhstan’s Abzal Kuttybekov for a place in the finals on Friday.

Commandant Adrian Watson hailed O’Brien’s performance. “His physical courage is a reflection of the excellent soldier he is,” he said.

Watson also praised the input of Gerard Riordan (father), Phil Sutcliffe, Pat Ryan and Army head coach John Molloy.

(Images: O’Brien after today’s win and with Irish staff)

 

 

 

World (CISM) Military Games Wuhan, China

October 25

S/Final

91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) v Abzal Kuttybekov (Kazakhstan)

October 23

Q/Final

91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Juan Nogueira (Brazil) 5-0

October 22

Q/Finals

75kg Leona Houlihan (Ireland) lost to Viktoryia Kebikova (Belarus) RSC3

Last 16

81kg Brian Kennedy (Ireland) lost to Di Zhou (China) 0-5
91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Krenar Aliu (Finland) 5-0
91kg+ Antoine O Gríofa (Ireland) lost to Kumar Satish (India) 0-5

October 21

Last 32

91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Michel Gavaj (France) KO1

October 20

Last 16

75kg Leona Houlihan (Ireland) beat Garza Fallon (USA) W/O

Last 32

64kg Stephen Lockhart (Ireland) lost to Zang Shuang (China) 0-5
69kg Ross Hickey (Ireland) lost to Miliusha Dzmitry (Belarus) RSCI1
75kg Michael Connelly (Ireland) lost to Golembiewski Bartosz (Poland) 0-5

Irish squad

Team Manager Comdt: Adrian Watson (Roscommon)

Head coach: Sgt John Molloy (7th Batt) (Offaly)

Coach: Phil Sutcliffe

75kg: Cpl Leona Houlihan (Dublin)

64kg: Pte Stephen Lockhart (7th Dublin)

69kg: Pte, Ross Hickey (Kildare)

75kg: Lt Mike Connelly (Galway)

81kg: Tpr Brian Kennedy (Offaly)

91kg: Pte Danny O’Brien (Dublin)

91kg+: Pte Antoine O Gríofa (Galway)

 

The Two Castles ABC host a top international tournament this Friday evening in Tyrone.

An Irish Select meet a highly-rated Wales and Scotland Select in the Fir Trees Hotel in Strabane.

18 star-studded contests are down for decision featuring many local boxers, including Jude Gallagher, the Mayse twins Allanagh and Tiarnan, Cealan Doherty, Sean Fee, Tiarnan Glennon. Danny McHugh, John Conlan, Charles McDonagh and Eoghan Quinn.

World Elite quarter-finalist Ceire Smith is also between the ropes.

Smith, who was edged on a 3-2 split decision by North Korea’s 2018 World Elite gold medallist Mi Choi Pang in the flyweight quarter-finals at this month’s World Women’s Elites in Siberia, meets ABA champion, Helen Jones.

“It’s a really good card and I’m very much looking forward to Friday night,” said Smith, a six-time Irish Elite titlist.

Visit the Two Castles BC FaceBook page here for further information on what is by any standard a top-class meeting featuring Youth Olympians, World, European, Irish and Provincial champions and medallists in Strabane.

The action gets underway at 7.30pm sharp. A bumper crowd is expected patrons are asked to be in their seats early.

 

 

Ireland Select v Wales/Scotland Select

Friday, October 28 Fir Trees Hotel Strabane, Co. Tyrone

Cealan Doherty v Kieran James

Mikes Donoghue v Romeo Costa

Sean Fee v Brandon Scott

Charles McDonagh v T.J. Price

Tiarnan Glennon v Ben Wetter

Eoghan Quinn v Scott James

William Hayden v Garan Croft

Tiarnan Mayse v Taylor Bevan

Rachael Lawless v Zoe Andrews

Ceire Smith v Helen Jones

John Conlan v Shane Taffersauffer

Thomas Maughan v Sam Leyson

Danny McHugh v Mark Duffy

Teo Alin v Dean Clancy

Jude Gallagher v Ryan Carlin

Matthew Tindall v Reece Lynch

Allanagh Mayse v Cathy Morgan

Luke Hall v Alan Perrie

 

 

(Peter O’Donnell)

Danny O’Brien advanced to within one win of at least bronze at the World Military Games in China this afternoon.

The Dublin heavyweight convincingly beat Krenar Aliu of Finland on a unanimous decision – 30-27,30-26,30-26,30-27,29-28 – to progress in Wuhan.

The Irish Senior champion, who has recorded two wins so far in China, will meet Brazil’s Juan Nogueira for a place in the semi-finals tomorrow.

“He’s a serious warrior,” said Commandant Adrian Watson after O’Brien’s hand was raised in victory.

Earlier today, Leona Houlihan, Antoine O Griofa and Brian Kennedy bowed out of the 7th edition of the Games.

Houlihan lost her bid for at least bronze in the 75kg class.

The Dublin middleweight was beaten by Viktoryia Kebikova, with the Belarussian scoring an inside the distance win.

Galway super heavy O Gríofa dropped a unanimous decision to India’s Kumar Satish.

Kennedy was beaten by Chinese light-heavy Di Zhou this afternoon. Di won the last 16 meeting 30-27 across the board despite a top-class performance from the Offaly man.

(Image: Danny O’Brien and Irish coaching staff after today’s victory and O’Brien after today’s win)

 

World (CISM) Military Games Wuhan, China

October 23

Q/Final

91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) v Juan Nogueira (Brazil)

October 22

Q/Final

75kg Leona Houlihan (Ireland) lost to Viktoryia Kebikova (Belarus) RSC3

Last 16

81kg Brian Kennedy (Ireland) lost to Di Zhou (China) 0-5
91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Krenar Aliu (Finland) 5-0
91kg+ Antoine O Gríofa (Ireland) lost to Kumar Satish (India) 0-5

October 21

Last 32

91kg Danny O’Brien (Ireland) beat Michel Gavaj (France) KO1

October 20

Last 16

75kg Leona Houlihan (Ireland) beat Garza Fallon (USA) W/O

Last 32

64kg Stephen Lockhart (Ireland) lost to Zang Shuang (China) 0-5
69kg Ross Hickey (Ireland) lost to Miliusha Dzmitry (Belarus) RSCI1
75kg Michael Connelly (Ireland) lost to Golembiewski Bartosz (Poland) 0-5

Irish squad

Team Manager Comdt: Adrian Watson (Roscommon)

Head coach: Sgt John Molloy (7th Batt) (Offaly)

Coach: Phil Sutcliffe

75kg: Cpl Leona Houlihan (Dublin)

64kg: Pte Stephen Lockhart (7th Dublin)

69kg: Pte, Ross Hickey (Kildare)

75kg: Lt Mike Connelly (Galway)

81kg: Tpr Brian Kennedy (Offaly)

91kg: Pte Danny O’Brien (Dublin)

91kg+: Pte Antoine O Gríofa (Galway)