The “Whest” is awake again….. Galway’s Kieran Molloy, pictured above with his dad and Irish team manager Stephen Molloy after today’s win, guaranteed Ireland at least bronze at the EU Elite Championships in Valladolid, Spain this afternoon.
The Oughterard BC welter beat Italy’s Vincenzo Arecchiai on a 3-1 split to book his ticket into the last four.
Molloy forced his opponent into standing counts in the 2nd and third rounds but one judge scored it a draw and another favoured Arecchiai……
The other three judges scored it for Molloy.
The win guarantees Galway its first European Elite medal and sets up Saturday’s semi-final with England’s European Elite finalist Pat McCormack whose twin brother Luke also won today.
Molloy’s podium finish maintains Ireland’s proud record of having medaled at every EU Men’s Elite Championships since, and including, the inaugural tournament is Strasbourg in 2003.
Wayne Kelly produced a powerful performance this afternoon against Moldova’s former European Elite finalist Dmitry Galogot but lost on a unanimous verdict.
The Portlaoise light-welter, growing in confidence as the bout progressed, troubled his AIBA World ranked opponent in each round of a cracking and close contest.
Dublin heavyweight Kiril Afanasev is in quarter-final action tomorrow versus Croatia.
EU Elite Championships Valladolid, Spain
November 9
Prelims (Last 16)
52kg Conor Quinn (Ireland) lost to Rosenov Banbakov (Bulgaria) 1-4
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Stefan Ivanov (Bulgaria) 5-0
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) lost to Frazer Clarke (England) 1-4
November 10
Prelims (last 16)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Ruben Veciunoa (Belgium) 5-0
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) beat David Michalek (Slovakia) 4-1
November 11th
Prelims (last 16)
64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) beat Petr Novak (Czech Republic) 5-0
November 12
Prelims (last 16)
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) beat Stepan Nikitin (Germany) 5-0
November 13
Q/Finals
64kg Wayne Kelly (Ireland) lost to Dmitry Galogot (Moldova) 0-5
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) beat Vincenzo Arecchiai (Italy) 3-1
November 14
Q/Finals
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Ireland) v Toni Filipi (Croatia)
November 15
Q/Finals
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Jaroslav Iwanow (Poland)
75kg Michael Nevin (Ireland) v Carl Fail (England)
November 17
S/Finals
69kg Kieran Molloy (Ireland) V Pat McCormack (England)
Irish squad
52kg Conor Quinn (Clonard BC)
56kg Kurt Walker (Canal BC)
64kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise BC)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard BC) (Bronze, at least)
75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise BC)
91kg Kirill Afanasev (Smithfield BC)
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Clonmel BC) Cpt
Team Manager: Stephen Molloy
Coaches: John Conlan & Eoin Pluck
Physiotherapist: Seamus Caffrey
Team Doctor: Jim Clover- Team Doctor
Sports Physiologist: Damian Martin
Referee & Judge: Jim Murrin- R&J