TEAM IRELAND experienced contrasting fortunes on Day 1 of the Brandenburg Youth Cup in Frankfurt/Oder this afternoon and evening.
David Oliver Joyce and Pierce O’Leary advanced following impressive wins, but Christian Preston and Jack Lawlor bowed out at the last 16 stage in Germany.
Joyce, finding the target with heavy shots,beat Germany’s Mert Caliskan to advance to the quarter-finals and O’Leary dominated Caliskan’s compatriot Aman Poorasghar with regular right hooks, the occasional backhand thrown into the bargain, en route to a unanimous decision.
Preston battled Russian welter Timur Nurushev all the way down to the final bell with both young men trading plenty of leather in a three-rounder which could have gone either way.
Lawlor also found the target against the high-guard and compact tactics of German light-heavy Georgy Gubeladze but took a standing county in a fiery final minute of a hard-punching contest.
Irish team manager Gerry O’Mahony praised the performances of the Irish quartet, adding that he believed that Preston did enough to get the decision but that it was a very close bout.
Six Irish boxers are in last-eight action tomorrow.
Brandenburg Youth Cup Frankfurt/Oder Germany
July 4
Last 16
60kg David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) beat Mert Caliskan (Germany) 3-2
64kg Pierce O’Leary (Ireland) beat Aman Poorasghar (Germany) 5-0
69kg Christian Preston (Ireland) lost to Timur Nurushev (Russia) 0-5
81kg Jack Lawlor (Ireland) lost to Georgy Gubeladze (Germany) 0-5
July 5
Q/Finals
52kg Owen McDonagh (Ireland) v Nikita Sevostyanov (Russia)
56kg John Paul Hale (Ireland) v Rasual Hamad (Germany)
60kg David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) v Rakhat Seitzhan (Kazakhstan)
64kg Pierce O’Leary (Ireland) v Talgen Shaiken (Kazakhstan)
75kg Sean Crowley (Ireland) v Vadim Andreyev (Belarus)
91kg Owen McDonagh (Ireland) v Hassan Hagag (Austria)
July 6th
S/Final
49kg Adam Hession (Ireland) v Massimo Spada (Italy)
Irish squad
49kg Adam Hession (Monivea)
52kg Owen McDonagh (Leeside Lough)
56kg John Paul Hale (Star)
60kg David Oliver Joyce (Ballymun)
64kg Pearce O’Leary (Dublin Docklands)
69kg Christian Preston (Dublin Docklands)
75kg Sean Crowley (Arklow)
81kg Jack Lawlor (Thurles)
91kg Ownie McDonagh (St Annes)
Team Manager: Gerry O’Mahony (Dungarvan)
Coaches: Phil Sutcliffe (Crumlin) & Stephen Friel (Illies GG)
R&J: P McEvoy (Avona)