Kiril Afanasev, who scored a highly impressive split decision over England’s 2017 European Elite finalist and Commonwealth medallist Cheavon Clarke, Kieran Molloy and Wayne Kelly, who obliged Spain’s Ddrian Thidn to take a count in the first, advanced from their quarter-finals.Molloy, who beat Marian Pita of Romania, will face England’s European Elite silver medallist Pat McCormack in Friday’s 69kg semi-final.
World Elite finalist Kellie Harrington,EU titlist Michaela Walsh and Aoife O’Rourke, who took the early route to victory, progressed from their semi-finals this afternoon.Harrington comfortably beat Serbia’s Jelina Jelic, who asked enough questions of Olympic and current unified pro champion Katie Taylor on a Kanturk BC hosted show in Cork in 2016, and Walsh floored Serb feather Andeal Brankovic for a count in the first en route to victory.Romanian middleweight Stefania Balca took a count versus O’Rourke in the first and her corner retired their woman at the end of the frame.
All of Ireland’s remaining female boxers are now through to Saturday’s finals. The remaining Irishmen, including three-time European Elite champion Joe Ward, are in semi-final action tomorrow.
Ceire Smith bowed out this afternoon after a close flyweight contest with Romania’s Claudia Nechita.
Nicolae Linca Elite Golden Belt Galati, Romania September 25/30
September 27
S/Finals
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Claudia Nechita (Romania) 0-5
56kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Andeal Brankovic (Serbia) 5-0
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Jelena Jelic (Serbia) 5-0
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) beat Stefania Balca (Romania) RSC1
Q/Finals
64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Ddrian Thidn (Spain) 5-0
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Marian Pita (Romania) 5-0
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) beat Cheavon Clarke (England) 3-2
September 26
Q/Finals
52kg Conor Quinn (Ireland) beat Virban Gabor (Hungary) 4-1
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) lost to Victor Corrapcevschi (Moldova) 0-5
Last 16
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) beat Gregor Skranec (Slovenia) RSC2
September 28
S/Finals
52kg Conor Quinn (Ireland) v Galal Yafai (England)
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Bayan Asenov (Bulgaria)
64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) v Irigaeer Nedelita (Russia) or Dmitry Galagot (Moldova)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) v Pat McCormack (England)
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) v Sammy Lee (Wales)
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) v Robert Marton (Ukraine)
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) v Mihai Nistor (Romania)
September 29
Finals
56kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v Lacramioara Perijoc (Romania)
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v Juliia Tsyplakova (Ukraine)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) v Maria Borei (Romania)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) v Onela Nane (Romania)
Irish squad
Male
52kg Conor Quinn (Clonard)
56kg Kurt Walker (Canal)
64kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard)
75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise)
81kg Joe Ward (Sparticus)
91kg Kirill Afanasev (Smithfield)
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)
Female
51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan/Virginia)
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monktown)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Marys)
69kg Gráinne Walsh (Sparticus)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea)
Coaches
Zauri Antia
John Conlan
Tom Murray
Team Manager
Eugene O’Kane
Physio
Séamus Caffrey
R&J
Loughlin Gannon