Rio 2016 Olympian Paddy Barnes was back on top of the podium at the Socikas Invitational tournament in Kaunas, Lithuania after beating Martin Salvador in today’s final.

The Belfast dynamo, boxing at fly, was in sparkling form and took control of the contest from the outset and outclassed his Spanish opponent – Barnes taking all three rounds comfortably.

“It was an excellent performance from Paddy, said Irish team manager Bernie Harold. “He took control from the first round up and we’re delighted with the win.”

Barnes beat two Spanish opponents en route to gold in Kaunas. World Elite champion Michael Conlan was also boxing at the tournament. Conlan’s semi-final bout with Moldova’s Veaceslav Goran was stopped in the second round yesterday after Conlan, who was well ahead on points, picked up a facial cut.

 

Socikas Tournament Kaunas, Lithuania

May 19th S/Finals

52kg Paddy Barnes (Ireland) beat Gabriel Escobar (Spain) 3-0

56kg Michael Conlan (Ireland) beat Veaceslav Goran (Moldova) RSCI2

 

May 20th Finals

52kg Paddy Barnes (Ireland) beat Martin Salvador (Spain) 3-0

 

Irish squad

 

Paddy Barnes (Holy Family)

Michael Conlan (Clonard)

 

Team manager: Bernie Harold

Coaches: John Conlan and Jimmy Payne

Physio: Molly Ryan

Cork middleweight Christina Desmond lost on a unanimous decision to Morocco’s Rio 2016 Olympian Khadija Mardi in the Olympic 75kg class at the World Women’s Championships and Olympic qualifiers in Astana, Kazakhstan today.

The North African was awarded a unanimous decision. Desmond, chasing the fight, took a standing count in the fourth round.

However, the Leesiders can consider herself unlucky not to have been awarded a 10-8 round in the second after she dropped Mardi with a right hook, which the ref ruled a slip.

It was the type of “slip” that boxers would be advised not to have very often!

Meantime, Kelly Harrington recorded Ireland’s first win of the 9th edition of the tournament today.

The Dublin light-welter beat former Irish Youth champion Austeja Auciute on a unanimous decision to join Grainne Walsh in the last 16.

Auciute won five Irish underage titles boxing out of the Finn Valley BC in Donegal, but has since returned to her native Lithuania where she secured an Elite belt this year.

Harrington claimed every round 10-9 this afternoon to post a 40-36 decision across the board in the 64kg class.

Earlier today, Dervla Duffy was beaten by Diletta Cipallane, the current Italian champion, in the 54kg class on a unanimous decision after four tough rounds of boxing.

Moira McElligot can consider herself very unlucky to lose this morning. The St Michael’s Athy feather and Turkey’s Sati Burcu were locked in a see-saw battle which ended 39-37, 38-38, 37-39, but then it went back to the judges the Turk got the nod.

Donna Barr and Olympic champion Katie Taylor are in action tomorrow.

 

 

AIBA World Women’s Championships Astana, Kazakhstan

May 19th (Last 64)
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Ingrit Valencia (Colombia) 0-2

May 20th (Last 32)
54kg Dervla Duffy (Ireland) lost to Diletta Cipallane (Italy) 0-3
57kg Moira McElligot (Ireland) lost to Sati Burcu (Turkey) 1-2
64kg Kelly Harrington (Ireland) beat Austeja Auciute (Lithuania) 3-0
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) lost to Khadija Mardi (Morocco) 0-3

May 21st (Last 32)
48kg Donna Barr (Ireland) v Kim Klavel (Canada)
60kg Katie Taylor (Ireland) v Agnes Alexiusson (Sweden)

May 22nd (Last 16)
64kg Kelly Harrington (Ireland) v Cindy Rogge (Germany) or Eszter Olah (Hungary)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) v Hanna Solecka (Poland)

Irish squad

48kg Donna Barr (Twin Towns)

51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan)

54kg Dervla Duffy (Mulhuddart)

57kg Moira McElligot (St Michael’s Athy)

60kg Katie Taylor (Bray)

64kg Kelly Harrington (Glasnevin)

69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)

75kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)

Team manager: Anna Moore

Coaches: Zaur Antia, Eddie Bolger, Gerry Storey, Pat McDonagh

Physio: Molly Ryan

Please scroll down for weekend draw for National Senior Cadet Championships.

The tournament begins at the Drimnagh BC tonight (7pm) and continues at the Dublin venue tomorrow.

The finals will be decided next Friday at the National Stadium in Dublin.

 

 

National Senior Cadet Championships 2016

 

Friday May 20th (Drimnagh BC, Dublin)

Q/Finals (7pm

46kg Dean Clancy ( Ballinacarrow) V Jamie Griffin (Fr Horgans
46kg Colin Maguire (Castleblaney) V Killian Geraghty (Esker)
48kg Declan McDonagh (Ballyhaunis) V David Oliver Joyce (Ballymun)
50kg Cian Reddy ( Portlaoise) V Paul Loonam ( St Carthages)
50kg Bill Stokes (Neilstown) V Michael Myers (Crumlin)
52kg Martin McDonagh (Glen) V Kian Bittles (Holy Trinity)
57kg Mike Joyce (Phibsboro) V David McDonagh (Sparticus
75kg Calium Glynn (Cherry Orchard) V Adam Dempsey (Achill)

Saturday May 21st (Drimnagh BC, Dublin)

S/Finals (11am)

46kg Terry Donohue (St Michaels Athy) V Winner
46kg Winner V Winner
48kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michaels Athy)V Jack McGivern (St Georges)
50kg Owen McDonagh (Leeside Lough) V Winner
50kg Winner V Callum Walsh (Riverstown)
52kg John Donoghue (Portloaise) V Winner
52kg Davy Joyce (Johnstown) V Mikey Stokes (Athlone)
57kg Seamus Mongan (Bay City) V Winner
57kg Edward Donvoan (O.L.O.L.) V Cathal Myers (Sligo City)
60kg Michael Delaney (Olympic) V Aaron Tuke (Arklow)
60kg Nathan Mongan (Cavan) V Nathan Jacob (Crumlin)
63kg Sean Dempsey (Sacre Coeur) V Sean Donaghy (St Canices)
66kg Jack Conroy (Mullingar Elite) V Patrick Dunne (Riverstown)
66kg Dean Brophy (Portlaoise) V James Power (Fr Horgans)
70kg Brandon Stokes (Avona) V Paddy Mckenzie (Arklow)
75kg Pierre Stokes (Athlone) V Winner
42kg Sean Mari (Monkstown D) V Nathan Horrigan (Cherry Orchard)
75kg Alan Brennan (Charlestown) V Owen McDonagh (St Annes)
80kg Michael Walsh (Holy Family D) V Brendan McParland (St John Bosco Newry)
48kg Dylan Doyle (Monkstown D) V Winner
82kg Thomas Gavin (Edenmore) V Charles Kavanagh (Glin)
82kg Edward McDonagh (Lumpini) V Zenja Jelisejenkovs (Castlebar)

nal Stadium Dublin)

Finals (7pm)

39kg Adam Hession (Monivea) V Joe McHale (St Aidans) Exhibition
42kg Cian Doyle (Crumlin) V Winner
44kg Martin McDonagh (Ballina) V Jame Connors (Muskerry)
46kg Winner V Winner
48kg Winner V Winner
50kg Winner V Winner
52kg Winner V Winner
54kg Barry McReynolds (Holy Trinity) V Francie Stokes (Cavan)
57kg Winner V Winner
60kg Winner V Winner
63kg Pierce O’Leary (Dublin Docklands) V Winner
66kg Winner V Winner
70kg Kane Tuker (Holy Trinity) V Winner
75kg Winner V Winner
80kg Michael McDonald (Darndale) V Winner
80+kg Winner V Winner

 

 

Kelly Harrington recorded Ireland’s first win of the AIBA World Women’s Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan today.

The Dublin light-welter beat former Irish Youth champion Austeja Auciute on a unanimous decision to join Grainne Walsh in the last 16.

Auciute won five Irish underage titles boxing out of the Finn Valley BC in Donegal, but has since returned to her native Lithuania where she secured an Elite belt this year.

Harrington claimed every round 10-9 this afternoon to post a 40-36 decision across the board in the 64kg class.

Earlier today, Dervla Duffy was beaten by Diletta Cipallane, the current Italian champion, in the 54kg class on a unanimous decision after four tough rounds of boxing.

Moira McElligot can consider herself very unlucky to lose this morning. The St Michael’s Athy feather and Turkey’s Sati Burcu were locked in a see-saw battle which ended 39-37, 38-38, 37-39, but then it went back to the judges the Turk got the nod.

Cork middleweight Christina Desmond is boxing in the evening session which begins at 2pm (Irish time) versus Morocco’s Rio 2016 Olympian Khadija Mardi. Click here for program.

The middleweight class is one of the three Olympic weights for women in Rio. The top four in each division qualifies for the 31st Olympiad.

 

 

AIBA World Women’s Championships Astana, Kazakhstan

May 19th (Last 64)
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Ingrit Valencia (Colombia) 0-2

May 20th (Last 32)
54kg Dervla Duffy (Ireland) lost to Diletta Cipallane (Italy) 0-3
57kg Moira McElligot (Ireland) lost to Sati Burcu (Turkey) 0-3
64kg Kelly Harrington (Ireland) beat Austeja Auciute (Lithuania) 3-0
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) v Khadija Mardi (Morocco)

May 21st (Last 32)
48kg Donna Barr (Ireland) v Kim Klavel (Canada)
60kg Katie Taylor (Ireland) v Agnes Alexisson (Sweden)

May 22nd (Last 16)
64kg Kelly Harrington (Ireland) v Cindy Rogge (Germany) or Eszter Olah (Hungary)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) v Hanna Solecka (Poland)

Irish squad

48kg Donna Barr (Twin Towns)

51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan)

54kg Dervla Duffy (Mulhuddart)

57kg Moira McElligot (St Michael’s Athy)

60kg Katie Taylor (Bray)

64kg Kelly Harrington (Glasnevin)

69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)

75kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)

Team manager: Anna Moore

Coaches: Zaur Antia, Eddie Bolger, Gerry Storey, Pat McDonagh

Physio: Molly Ryan

 

 

Dervla Duffy, Moira McElligot, Kelly Harrington and Christina Desmond are in last 32 action at the World Women’s Elite Championships and Olympic qualifiers in Astana, Kazakhstan tomorrow.

Please click here for program. Local times apply. Astana is five hours ahead of Ireland.

Desmond meets Khadija Mardi of Morocco over four, two minutes rounds at middleweight, which is one of the three Olympic weights for women. Mardi booked a ticket for Rio 2016 through the African qualifiers earlier this year.

Earlier today, Ceire Smith bowed out despite a big performance in Central Asia.

The Cavan BC flyweight was beaten on a majority decision by Colombia’s Rio 2016 Olympian Ingrit Valencia in the last 64 of the tournament.

Smith impressed to take the first round on all three cards, but Valencia claimed the final three frames – the second on a split – to secure victory against the Irishwoman.

Irish team manager Anna Moore said they felt Smith had done enough to advance from the Olympic flyweight four-rounder

Meantime, Sweden’s Agnes Alexiusson beat Italy’s Rio Olympian Irma Testa today and meets Katie Taylor on Saturday.

The top four boxers (the semi-finalists) in each of the three Olympic weights – flyweight, lightweight and middleweights – in Astana qualify for Rio 2016.

Boxers in the other weights in Astana are competing for medals at the 9th edition of the tournament.

Grainne Walsh received a bye into the last-16 and will be between the ropes on Sunday.

 

 

AIBA World Women’s Championships Astana, Kazakhstan

May 19th (Last 64)
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) lost to Ingrit Valencia (Colombia) 0-2

May 20th (Last 32)
54kg Dervla Duffy (Ireland) v Diletta Cipallane (Italy)
57kg Moira McElliggot (Ireland) v Sati Burcu (Turkey)
64kg Kelly Harrington (Ireland) v Austeja Auciute (Lithuania)
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) v Khadija Mardi (Morocco)

May 21st (Last 32)
48kg Donna Barr (Ireland) v Kim Klavel (Canada)
60kg Katie Taylor (Ireland) v Agnes Alexiusson (Sweden)

May 22nd (Last 16)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) v Hanna Solecka (Poland)

Irish squad

48kg Donna Barr (Twin Towns)

51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan)

54kg Dervla Duffy (Mulhuddart)

57kg Moira McElligot (St Michael’s Athy)

60kg Katie Taylor (Bray)

64kg Kelly Harrington (Glasnevin)

69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)

75kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)

Team manager: Anna Moore

Coaches: Zaur Antia, Eddie Bolger, Gerry Storey, Pat McDonagh

Physio: Molly Ryan