Team Ireland arrived home from the European Union Women’s Elite Championships in Cascia, Italy via Dublin Airport this afternoon.

Michaela Walsh, Kellie Harrington and Grainne Walsh claimed gold, silver and bronze at 8th edition of the tournament, with Walsh, who boxes out of the Monsktown BC in Antrim,becoming the first Irish female boxer besides Katie Taylor to top a podium at the level.

The weekend’s medal haul matches the record and identical haul of the 2013 EU Women’s panel.

Ireland’s seven-strong squad finished in 4th spot in the medals table at the 19-nation tournament.

Walsh won four bouts, all on unanimous decisions, in seven days in Cascia.

“It was tough enough but I came through, so I did. I’ve been working very hard. In the past I got bad decisions and bad draws, but this one, I wasn’t letting anyone take it away from me, said the new EU bantamweight champion.

Bernard Dunne, IABA High-Performance Director and team manager in Cascia, hailed the performances of the medal winners and the entire squad.

He said: “We asked the guys for performances out here and they gave us that.The entire squad gave it everything. We will definitely take a lot of positives from this tournament.”

Irish boxing has now won 23 medals in European Men’s and Women’s Elite, Youth Junior and Schoolboy tournaments since Joe Ward claimed European Eliote gold in the Ukraine on June 24th last.

Dmitry Dimituc and Jimmy Payne were working Ireland’s corner in Italy.

(Pictures courtesy of Liam Brereton)

 

European Union Women’s Championships Cascia, Italy August 4th/13th

August 5th

Last 16

54kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Ebonie Jones (England) 5-0
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Kinga Szalachcic (Poland) 4-1

August 6th

Last 16

48kg Kristina O’Hara (Ireland) beat Saru Lehtonen (Finland) 5-0
51kg Carly McNaul (Ireland) lost to Wassila Lkhadiri (France) 2-3
57kg Dervla Duffy (Ireland) beat Kinga Mezovari (Hungary) 5-0

August 7th

Q/finals

54kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Julia Coroli (Moldova) 5-0
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Ditteajaaja Frostholm (Denmark) 5-0
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) beat Lauren Price (Wales) 3-2

August 8th

Q/Finals

48kg Kristina O’Hara (Ireland) lost to Roberta Bonatte (Italy) 1-4
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) lost to Nouchka Fontijn (Netherlands) 0-5

August 9th

Q/Finals

57kg Dervla Duffy (Ireland) lost to Ornella Wahner (Germany) 0-5

S/Finals

54kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Helena Envall (Sweden) 5-0

August 11th

S/Finals

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Irma Testa (Italy) 5-0
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) lost to Nadine Apetz (Germany) 2-3

August 12th

Final

54kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Azize Nimani (Germany) 5-0
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) lost to Mira Potkonen (Finland) 0-4

Irish squad

48kg Kristina O’Hara (St John Bosco)

51kg Carly McNaul (Ormeau Road)

54kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) (Gold)

57kg Dervla Duffy (Mulhuddart)

60kg Kellie Harrington (St Marys) (Silver)

69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus) (Bronze)

75kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)

Team Manager/High-Performance Director: Bernard Dunne

Coaches: Dmitry Dimitruc and Jimmy Payne

Physio: Maureen Harte

R&J: Jim Murrin