Team Ireland secured 7 wins on the opening day of the 2024 European Junior Championships.
370 boxers are contesting the championships. 28 federations, in all, are competing at the tournament: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, England, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey.
IABA last contested this tournament in 2022 and returned with a massive haul of ten medals: 2 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze. Ava Henry (Docklands) and Tadhg O’Donnell (Four Kings) claimed gold; silvers were won by Grace Conway Dowling (Tredagh), Niamh Keogh (Olympic L), Mary McDonagh (Sliabh Luachra) and Jamie Collins (Drimnagh). Bronze medalists were Alfie Jordan (Olympic L), John Harty (Portlaoise), Cillian Reilly Lennon (Jobstown) and Sophie Curley Gray (Dealgan).
46kg Abby Molloy opened Ireland’s account with a resounding RSC2 win over Romania. She has secured a quarter finals berth, and boxes England’s Lily Bassett in Wednesday’s Evening Session. 57kg Joseph Mihai was next between the ropes, in action against England. He was the 4-1 split decision victor, (28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 29:28) and is next between the ropes against either Russia or Turkey in Tuesday’s Afternoon Session. That will be a Last 16 bout. 66kg John Donoghue, Olympic L, got his campaign underway against Russia, and came away the 4-0 decision winner (28:28; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29; 27:30). He’ll contest his Last 16 bout on Tuesday’s Evening session against either Azerbaijan or Georgia. 63kg Edward Harty rounded off a 100% win record for the opening session, with a split victory over Russia (29:28; 30:27; 30:27; 29:28; 30:27). He’s also back in action in Tuesday’s afternoon session.
In the evening session, 48kg Isabel Nolan made her debut with a 4-1 split decision win over Turkey. Judges scored the bout 28:29; 29:28; 28:29; 28:29; 28:29. She’s through to the quarter finals and will face either Russia or England in Wednesday’s Afternoon Session. 50kg Paige Nickles was the 3-2 split decision winner over Greece. The final scores in that bout: 29:28; 28:29; 30:27; 29:28; 27:30. She is also in Quarter Final action on Wednesday, against either Poland or Turkey. 57kg Kayleigh Byrne joins Abbey, Isabel and Paige in the Quarter Finals following her 5-0 victory over Italy (27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30) – she’ll contest for a place on the podium on Wednesday, against either Serbia or Bosnia.
Three brave and gutsy performance today from 54kg Molly Doyle (5-0; 30:27; 30:26; 30:27; 30:27; 30:27), 52kg Mary Ann Furlong (5-0; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30; 27:30) and 60kg Sarah McTiernan,( 5-0; 30:27; 30:27; 30:27; 30:27; 30:27) against Poland, Scotland and Turkey, respectively, but it wasn’t to be on this occasion. All three boxers exit the tournament, but will have invaluable post-competition sparring experience in Sarajevo.
Day Two
8 Ireland boxers are in action on Day Two.
48kg Michael O’Reilly, St Paul’s, Waterford opens his campaign in Bout 7 of Ring A’s Afternoon Session, against Rubin Clarkson of Scotland. 2 bouts later, 54kg Jason Donoghue, Olympic L, is between the ropes against Georgia’s Giorgi Kilasonia. In Ring B’s Bout 2, 46kg Oliver Plachta, St Francis, will also face Georgian opposition, in Danieli Ogli Ramiz. 60kg Desmond Sweeney, Olympic C is in action in Bout 10, against Scotland’s Oscar Steele. In the subsequent bout, 81+kg Johnny McGinley, Gateway takes on Bogdan Kajetan Bajzert of Poland.
In Bout 3 of Ring A’s Evening Session, 70kg Cathal Myers, Sligo City meets Mamuka Kakabadze of Georgia. In Bout 10 of the same ring and session, 80kg John Mongans, Rathkeale contests against Hungary’s Alex Damjan. In Ring B’s Bout 10, 75kg William Heaphy, Golden Gloves M is between the ropes against Armenia’s Samvel Siramargyan
Programme
Watch
The Afternoon Session begins at 1pm, Irish time and the Evening Session begins at 4.30pm
Ring A
Ring B:
Team
46kg Abby Molloy, Sacred Heart, Dublin
48kg Isabel Nolan, Santry
50kg Paige Nickles, Banbridge
52kg Mary Ann Furlong, Na Fianna
54kg Molly Doyle, Templemore
57kg Kayleigh Byrne, Gorey
60kg Sarah McTiernan, Drumsna
63kg Kaysie Joyce, Clonmel
66kg Cassie Henderson, Phoenix
70kg Chloe Poleon, Dunboyne
75kg Carly Norris, Santry
80kg Alanna Kenny, Clonmel
46kg Oliver Plachta, St Francis
48kg Michael O’Reilly, St Paul’s, Waterford
50kg Kalib Walsh, Wexford
52kg Eddie Corcoran, Olympic L
54kg Jason Donoghue, Olympic L
57kg Joseph Mihai, Crumlin
60kg Desmond Sweeney, Olympic C
63kg Edward Harty, Portlaoise
66kg John Donoghue, Olympic L
70kg Cathal Myers, Sligo City
75kg William Heaphy, Golden Gloves M
80kg John Mongans, Rathkeale
81+kg Johnny McGinley, Gateway
Team Manager: Peter O’Donnell
Team Manager: Karen Robins
Coach: Brian Barry
Coach: Paul Simpson
Coach: Alan Donnellan
R&J: Barry Tucker.
Draws are available here
Session 1A
Session 2B results
Session 3A results
Session 4B results