4 Ireland boxers have won through to the European Youth Championship Finals.
52kg Grace Conway Dowling go the action underway in today’s semi finals, boxing Madalina Grabucea of Italy. She is assured now of at least a silver medal, following a 4-1 split win. Judges scored the bout 29:28; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 28:29.
Team Co-Captain 63kg Ava Rose Henry contested against Poland’s Kinga Krowka to change the colour of her medal and succeeded, in style with a 5-0 decision. The judges scores were: 30:27; 30:27; 30:27; 29:28; 29:28. In the subsequent bout, 66kg Kyla Doyle Byrne met Italy’s Annamaria Del Giorno in her semi final. She was similarly decisive, with a 5-0 win on a scoreline of 27:30; 27:30; 26:30; 27:30; 27:30.
Team Co-Captain, 92+kg Adam Olaniyan met Ukrainian opposition, in the form of Oleksandr Sliesariev. After a tense wait for a bout-reviewed decision, his hand was raised and a 4-3 win result declared. Judges scored the bout 28:29; 29:28; 30:27; 28:29; 28:29.
Coming home with bronze medals after excellent campaigns are 71kg Tadgh O’Donnell, who boxed his semi final against John Joe Carrigan of England (5-0, 29:28; 29:28; 29:28; 30:26; 30:27) and 63.5kg Ryan Jenkins, who contested against Ukraine’s Artur Kuzmenko (5-0; 29:28; 29:28; 29:28; 30:26; 30:27)
33 countries and 330 boxers are contesting the competition, in Porec, Croatia. Participation federations are Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, IBA – B, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine.
Ireland has a highly successful recent history at the tournament – the 2022 team won more medals at this competition that any other Team Ireland Youth squad contesting a European level tournament. They came home with 3 gold for Team Co-Captain, 71kg Bobbi Flood, 81kg Dearbhla Tinnelly and 81+kg Cliona D’arcy, a silver for 70kg Laura Moran and 3 bronze for 48kg boxers Georgia Dunn McGovern and Patsy Joyce, 50kg Katie O’Keeffe, and 63kg Winnie McDonagh.
Saturday is a rest day at the tournament.
Finals
52kg Grace Conway Dowling is first up on Sunday, contesting in Bout 3 of the Afternoon Session – she fights for gold against Taisiia Pokusai of Ukraine. Team Co-Captain 63kg Ava Henry steps between the ropes in Bout 6, against Ukraine’s Yulia Stupakova. In the subsequent bout, 66kg Kyla Doyle Byrne takes on Romania’s Amalia Tugui.
Team Co-Captain, 92+kg Adam Olaniyan, will have to wait until the last bout of the tournament to box for gold – he’ll contest in Bout 13 of the Evening Session, against Armenia’s Misak Tepanyan
Sunday’s Afternoon Session will begin at 11am, Irish time. The Evening Session begins at 4pm.
Programme
Watch
EUBC will stream the finals live on it’s YouTube channel. Links will become available on the day of boxing.
Team
48kg Tiffany Spencer, Jobstown BC, Dublin
50kg Carlagh Peake, Ballyhaunis BC, Mayo.
52kg Grace Conway Dowling, Tredagh BC, Louth
54kg Nicole Kinsella, St. Mary’s BC, NR, Wexford
63kg Ava Henry, Dublin Docklands BC.
66kg Kyla Doyle Byrne, Whitechurch BC, Dublin
48kg Scott Thompson, Spartans BC, Antrim
51kg Jamie Collins, Drimnagh BC, Dublin
54kg Kai Ducque, Avona BC, Dublin
57kg Martin McDonagh, Avona BC, Dublin.
60kg Jack Johnson, Marble City BC, Kilkenny
63.5kg Ryan Jenkins, Olympic BC, Westmeath
67kg Ryan Connolly, Setanta BC, Kildare.
71kg Tadhg O’Donnell, Four Kings BC, Wicklow.
92+kg Adam Olaniyan, Jobstown BC, Dublin.
Team Manager: Anna Moore
Coach: Liam Cunningham
Coach: Amanda Spencer
Coach: Garry Kehoe
Coach: Ralph McKay
R&J: Stephen Kelly
Draws are available here
Day One results are available here
Day Two results are available here
Day Three results are available here
Day Four results are available here
Day Five results are available here
Day Six results are available here
Day Seven results are available here
Day Eight results are available here
Session 23A results
Session 24B results
Session 25A results
Session 26B results