Four through, Four out on Day 2 of European Schoolboys/girls Championships
Four Irish boxers moved to within one win of a medal at the the European Schoolboy/Girl Championships in Albena, Bulgaria today but a further four were eliminated.
Ireland male captain Cale Brennan, William Faulkner, Jason Nevin and John Fay had their hands raised in victory at the 27-nation tournament.
Brennan advanced after a fiery encounter with Ukraine’s Denys Rosdolskyi. Both young men took standing counts in the second with the Irish skipper sealing the win after rocking his opponent with a big right and combination in the third.
Faulkner dominated versus Greek orthodox Georgis Georgantzas, the Limerick southpaw finding the target with a wide selection of shots in all three rounds against a brave but ultimately outclassed opponent.
Fay subjected Dovydas Paskevicius of Lithuania to three rounds or unrelenting pressure – his best work was probably in the first when he had his opponent in trouble on the ropes – to book his ticket to within striking distance of at least bronze.
Likewise with Nevin, who looked as if he was going to stop Serghei Nova in the third. In fairness to the diminutive Moldovan, he did battle away in all three frames but never really had an answer to Nevin’s swift combinations off the front and back foot.
Brannon McMahon, James McGuinness, Martin McDonagh and the especially unlucky Thomas McAleer all, however, bowed out.
Ireland, via byes, have already guaranteed four medals at this year’s championships.
A busy day tomorrow sees 11 Irish boxers between the ropes, with seven fighting for medals in Eastern Europe.
European Schoolboy & Schoolgirl Championships Albena, Bulgaria May 21/30
May 22nd
Last 16
60kg Lauren Moran (Ireland) lost to Abby Briggs (England) 2-3
48kg Michael Connors (Ireland) beat Nedas Grigorianas (Lithuania) 3-2
50kg James Donovan (Ireland) beat Krisztian Balagh (Hungary) 4-0
May 23rd
Last 16
41.5kg William Faulkner (Ireland) beat Georgis Georgantzas (Greece) 5-0
43kg Jason Nevin (Ireland) beat Serghei Nova (Moldova) 5-0
46kg Cale Brennan (Ireland) beat Denys Rosdolskyi (Ukraine) 4-1
52kg Brannon McMahon (Ireland) lost to Volodymyr Kamaieve (Ukraine) 0-5
54kg John Fay (Ireland) beat Dovydas Paskevicius (Lithuania) 5-0
56kg James McGuinness (Ireland) lost to Iskren Mihaylov (Bulgaria) 1-4
59kg Thomas McAleer (Ireland) lost to Savelii Suprunets (Ukraine)
Q/Final
91kg Martin McDonagh (Ireland) lost to Kyrylo Novika (Ukraine)
May 24th
Last 16
38.5kg Martin Collins (Ireland) v Anton Salika (Belarus)
40kg Michael Faulkner (Ireland) v Gicha Gordulava (Georgia)
44.5kg Conor Donovan (Ireland) v Dominik Mucska (Hungary)
68kg Feidhlim Behan (Ireland) v Tymofii Krupko (Ukraine)
Q/Final
39kg Sophie Elstone (Ireland) v Polina Spirna (Russia)
42kg Nora Jackman (Ireland) v Viktoria Danielova (Slovakia)
45kg Robyn Kelly (Ireland) v Lyuba Atanasova (Bulgaria)
48kg Robyn Murran (Ireland) v Izabella Devenyi (Hungary)
51kg Labhaoise Glynn (Ireland) v Francesca Falconeri (Italy)
54kg Yasmin Meredith (Ireland) v Sophia Mazzoni (Italy)
57kg Kaci Crowley (Ireland) v Lucia Simulescu (Romania)
May 25th
Q/Finals
43kg Jason Nevin (Ireland) v Serghei Nova (Moldova)
48kg Michael Connors (Ireland) v aider Abduraimov (Ukraine)
50kg James Donovan (Ireland) v Dzhem Demirev (Bulgaria)
54kg John Fay (Ireland) v Mikita Harbuz (Belarus) or Martin Domeny (Hungary)
62kg Ryan Murphy (Ireland) v Armenia or Ukraine
65kg Joe Hutchinson (Ireland) v Irakli Janelidze (Georgia)
72kg Tyler Meade (Ireland) v Milon Tibic (Serbia)
76kg Curtis Darcy (Ireland) v Malyas Nagyos (Romania)
80kg Patrick McDonagh (Ireland) v Oleg Ilchenko (Ukraine)
May 26th
Q/Finals
41.5kg William Faulkner (Ireland) v Bogdan Priima (Russia)
43kg Jason Nevin (Ireland) v Shane Paterson (England)
46kg Cale Brennan (Ireland) v Indir Vracic (Serbia)
S/Finals
36kg Katie O’Keeffe (Ireland) v Renata Mingalimova (Russia)
63kg Winne Christina McDonagh (Ireland) v Sunniva Hofstad (Norway)
67kg Dearbhla Tinnelly (Ireland) v Alena Krinichnaia (Russia)
70kg Nasya McJin-Igelige (Ireland) v Karine Araptican (Ukraine)
Irish squad
36kg Katie O’Keeffe (Kanturk)
38.5kg Martin Collins (Drimnagh)
39kg Sophia Elstone (Ardnaree)
40kg Michael Faulkner (Northside)
41.5kg William Faulkner (Rathkeale)
42kg Nora Jackman (Paulstown)
43kg Jason Nevin (Olympic Mullingar)
44.5kg Conor Donovan (Clonmel)
45kg Robyn Kelly (Ballynacargy) (Captain)
46kg Cale Brennan (St Michael’s Athy) (Captain)
48kg Robyn Murran (St Brigid’s Kildare)
48kg Michael Connors (St Mary’s Dublin)
50kg James Donovan (O.L.O.L.)
51kg Labhaoise Glynn (Cloghan)
52kg Brannon Lyttle (Carrickmore)
54kg Yasmin Meredith (Glasnevin)
54kg John Fay (Swords)
56kg James McGuinness (St Monica’s)
57kg Kaci Crowley (Erne)
59kg Thomas McAleer (Swords)
60kg Laura Moran (St Anne’s)
62kg Ryan Murphy (Neilstown)
63kg Winnie Christina McDonagh (Neilstown)
65kg Joe Hutchinson (Neilstown)
67kg Dearbhla Tinnelly (Clann Naofa)
68kg Feidhlim Behan (Kilcullen)
70kg Nasya McJin-Igelige (Clann Naofa)
72kg Tyler Meade (Kilnamanagh)
76kg Curtis Darcy (Callan)
80kg Patrick McDonagh (St Joseph’s)
91kg Martin McDonagh (Ballyhaunis)
IABA President: Dominic O’Rouke
Team Managers: Martin Fennessey and Jennifer O’Sullivan
Coaches: Liam Brereton, Jim O’Neill, Eva Carr, John Gallagher, Tom Hayes
R&J: Brian Wallace