The Freddie Gilroy Young Boxer of the Year – The Smackwear Irish-Boxing.com Awards 2018
Ireland’s young boxers have had a pretty incredible year.
A total of 34 medals were won at the five major international underage tournaments attended by Ireland’s Youths (U18), Juniors (U16), and Schoolboys/girls (U14), while we also had teenage success in the pros.
A hard category to whittle down, below we have an extended list of TEN nominees for the award named after the late Olympic bronze medallist Freddie Gilroy.
Young Boxer of the Year
Kaci Crowley
The Fermanagh 57kg won gold at the European Schoolgirls Championships, beating a Russian in the decider in Albena, Bulgaria.
Lauren Dempsey (Ryston)
The Kildare 57kg won a sensational gold at the European Juniors in Russia, edging a far larger Russian in the final to top the podium in Anapa.
Michael Faulkner (Northside)
The Cork 40kg won four fights in five days, including a final triumph over a Russian, to grab gold at the European Schoolboy Championships.
Jude Gallagher (Two Castles)
The Tyrone light fly, in his first year at the age group, claimed bronze at the European Youths before following this up by being Ireland’s only medallist at the World Youths in Bugapest where he also took bronze.
Ellie Mai Gartland (Clonmel)
The Tipp 54kg was flawless at the European Juniors, racing to gold without seemingly breaking a sweat.
Winnie Christina McDonagh (Neilstown)
The Dublin 63kg was another one of the Russian beaters at the European Schoolgirls Championships in May, taking home gold from Bulgaria.
Yasmin Meredith (Glasnevin)
The Dublin 54kg blasted her way to the finals of the European Schoolgirls Championships with two stoppages before dominating a Russian to take home gold.
Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry)
Following European Junior gold last year, the Bray dynamo followed this up by topping the podium at the European Youths in Roseto, Italy.
James Power (trained by Declan Geraghty Sr)
The Cork puncher elected to turn pro at the tender age of 17 and racked up a pair of second-round stoppage wins in Tijuana, Mexico.
Dearbhla Rooney (Sean McDermott’s)
In her first year as an Irish international, the Leitrim feather enjoyed huge success, first winning silver at the European Youth Championships before claiming bronze at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.
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You can vote in the earlier polls below:
The Micky Ward Round of the Year
The Patrick Hyland Sr Trainer of the Year
The Alejandro González Jr Opponent of the Year
The Sean Mannion Gallant Defeat of the Year
