It was a Last 16 three from three for Team Ireland at the European U19 Championship in the Czech Republic today.
65kg John Donoghue, boxing his second contest of the tournament, has won through to the quarter finals in emphatic style – He was the victor in his contest against Romania’s Soren Segardi by way of RSC2. John boxes for a medal on Sunday, against Ukraine’s Vladyslav Zheleznov
60kg Sean McCusker, also back for bout no. 2, is through to the quarter finals, following a dominating Last 16 win over Estonia’s Aleksandr Jivoloup – which included giving his opponent a standing count in the second round. Sean was the 5-0 victor; judges scored the bout 25:30, 25:30, 24:30, 24:30, 25:30. Sean is back in action, boxing for a medal, on Saturday. He’ll take on Finland’s Aapo Rovanper.
75kg Jason Whelan is a quarter finalist by way of a unanimous decision victory over Bulgaria’s Sami Hisham Hashem Khalil. Judges scored the bout 26:30, 27:30, 28:29, 26:30, 27:29. Jason will vie for a podium place on Saturday, against Germany’s Marko Nedeljkovic
Sean, John and Jason join Grace Conway and Kayleigh Byrne in being one win away from a medal – three more boxers are in Last 16 action on Friday. 48kg Chloe Cox opens are account at quarter final stage on Saturday, as does 70kg Katelyn Butler, while 75kg Nessa Tabachuk is assured of a medal through a bye to the semi finals.
105 female and 189 male boxers from 33 nations are competiting. The participating nations are: Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine.
Day Four
Two Team Ireland boxers step between the ropes on Friday, and both are making their tournament debut.
85kg Chulainn McDonnell of Whitechurch BC, Dublin is in Last 16 action against Greece’s Ioannis Poumpouridis – That’s Bout 2 of Ring B’s Afternoon Session.
90kg Shay O’Dowd of Swords BC Dublin is in action in the Last 16 against Buglaria’s Genadiev Roselin Bachevski in Bout 4 of Ring A’s Evening Session.
Day Four’s programme is available here
Watch
The tournament is being live-streamed by the Czech Boxing Federation on its YouTube channel HERE. Links, per ring and session, will become available on the day of boxing
Team Ireland
48kg Chloe Cox, Setanta BC, Co. Kildare
50kg Kurt Kinsella, Monkstown BC Dublin
51kg Kayleigh Byrne, Gorey BC, Co. Wexford
55kg Michael Reilly. St. Paul’s BC, Co. Waterford
57kg Grace Conway, Tredagh BC, Co. Louth
60kg Sean McCusker, Dealgan BC, Co. Louth
65kg John Donoghue, Olympic BC, Co. Westmeath
70kg Katelyn Butler, St. Colman’s BC Co. Cork
70kg Patrick Kelly, St. Abban’s/Kilmyshall BC Co. Wexford
75kg Nessa Tabachuk, Celtic Eagles BC, Co. Galway
75kg Jason Whelan, Dublin Docklands BC
85kg Chulainn McDonnell, Whitechurch BC, Dublin
90kg Shay O’Dowd, Swords BC Dublin
Support staff:
Team Manager: Jennifer O’Sullivan, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry
Coaches: Liam Cunningham, Saints ABC, Belfast; Ralph McKay, St. Paul’s BC, Belfast; Aoife Hennigan. Swinford BC, Co. Mayo; Garry Keogh, Marble City BC, Co. Kilkenny