Team Ireland opens European U22 Championship Campaign Today

Team Ireland begins its 2023 European U22 Championship campaign today – two boxers are in the ring in Budva, Montenegro.

57kg Donagh Keary of Rathfriland BC meets Spain’s Juan Moreno Pantoja in Ring A’s 3rd bout. Ring B, 63.5kg James “Shamie” McDonagh of St Paul’s Waterford contests against Turkey’s Kagan Bilge Kanli

320 boxers from 38 countries have registered to contest the tournament: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Georgia, IBA – Germany, Greece, Hungary, IBA – Neutral, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, IBA – Netherlands, Northern Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey and Wales.

The host city, Budva, has a special resonance for Team Ireland – it was the location of the 2022 Women’s European Championship, where the team came home with 3 gold, a silver and 2 bronze medals, topping the table in the process.

Team Ireland had a very successful campaign at the 2022 European U22 Championships in Porec, Croatia, in March of that year, returning with 3 gold medals, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals. The golds were claimed by heavyweight and now Paris 2024 Olympian, Jack Marley, Lisa O’Rourke who would claim a World gold just 2 months later, and 54kg Niamh Fay

The women’s team finished joint 2^nd in the tournament’s medals rankings and 3^rd out of 24 countries in the team rankings. Turkey and Italy were in first and second, respectively.

The men’s team finished 7th out of 33 nations – Turkey and Ukraine, with 13 boxers apiece, finished in first and second, respectively.