HAT-TRICK OF WINS IN GERMANY

Ireland recorded a hat-trick of wins this afternoon to book tickets into Saturday’s finals at the Brandenburg Box Cup in Frankfurt/Oder, Germany.

Adam Hession, John Paul Hale and Owen McDongan upgraded their guaranteed bronze to at least silver after recording hard-fought and impressive points wins.

The Antrim, Connaught and Munster trio won on split decision (4-1 or 3-2 to be confirmed).

Hession saw off the challenge of Italian light-fly Massimo Spada in a fiery 49kg encounter and Hale beat Belarusian bantam Ijya Varabyou in a contest which occasionally broke out into an all-out slug-fest, particularly at the start of round two.

Cork flyweight McDonagh completed the three-in-a-row after a fiery encounter with Russia’s Asker Tambiev, who received a public warning for pushing the Leesider onto the canvas in the first.

(Russia are using two sides in Germany).

“Excellent performances from Adam and John and they’re guaranteed silver now. They both won tough fights against very good opponents. Owen totally deserved his win. He (Russian opponent) was really up for it, but Owen boxed very well,” said Irish team manager Gerry O’Mahony.