Brendan Irvine eliminated from European Championships

Brendan Irvine has been today eliminated from the European Championships at the semi final stage.

The Wee Rooster guaranteed bronze on Wednesday with a smart win over Spaniard Gabriel Escobar, but couldn’t upgrade to silver today against English opposition.

Irvine fell to a unanimous decision loss to Brummie youngster Niall Farrell in the last four in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

A tactical first saw both battle to establish the jab. Farrell was the busier, however the majority of the landed backhands were coming from Irvine.

The greater quality and technique again came from the Belfast man in the second, however Farrell was even busier in this stanza, constantly pumping out straight shots and outworking the St Paul’s fighter.

Irvine came out more aggressively in an open final round, trading shots with the Englishman throughout, with both landing plenty – although moreso from Farrell who had his timing down to a tee.

Going to the cards, Farrell’s work-rate was rewarded, and the British Lionhearts fighter was awarded a unanimous decision win with four tallies of 29:28, and one 30:27.

Ireland’s final remaining boxer, Joe Ward, will be in semi final action later today

European Elite Men’s Championships Kharkiv, Ukraine June 14th/25th
June 16th
(Last 32)
64kg Sean McComb (Ireland) beat Erik Agateljan (Czech Republic) 5-0

June 17th
Last 32
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Severiane Childaze (Georgia) 5-0
69kg Steven Donnelly (Ireland) lost to Sergei Sobylinski (Russia) 0-5

June 18th
Last 32
60kg Pat Mongan (Ireland) lost to Artur Bril (Germany) 0-5
75kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) beat Bartosz Golebiewski (Poland) 3-2

June 19th
Last 16
52kg Brendan Irvine (Ireland) beat Bathuhan Citfci (Turkey) 5-0
60kg Sean McComb (Ireland) beat Vitaly Dunaystev (Russia) 3-2
91kg+ Dean Gardiner (Ireland) lost to Viktor Vykhryst (Ukraine) TKO2

June 20th
Last 16
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Tayfur Aliyev (Azerbaijan) 4-1
75kg Emmet Brennan (Ireland) lost to Kamran Shakhsuvarly (Azerbaijan) 0-5
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Matus Strnisko (Slovakia) 5-0
91kg Darren O’Neill (Ireland) lost to Ramazazaqn Musilimov (Ukraine) 1-4

June 21st
Q/Finals
52kg Brendan Irvine (Ireland) beat Gabriel Escobar (Spain) 5-0
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Raffaele Di Serio (Italy) 3-1
64kg Sean McComb (Ireland) lost to Luke McCormack (England) 2-3
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Sean Lazzerini (Scotland) 5-0

June 23rd
S/Finals
52kg Brendan Irvine (Ireland) lost to Niall Farrell (England) 0-5
56kg Kurt Walker (Ireland) lost to Mykola Butsenko (Ukraine) 0-5
81kg Joe Ward (Ireland) v Valentino Manfredonia (Italy)

Irish squad
52kg – Flyweight – Brendan Irvine (St Pauls) (Bronze)
56kg – Bantamweight – Kurt Walker (Canal) (Bronze)
60kg – Lightweight – Patrick Mongan (Olympic)
64kg – Light-welter – Sean McComb (Holy Trinity)
69kg – Welterweight – Steven Donnelly (All Saints)
75kg – Middleweight – Emmett Brennan (Glasnevin)
81kg – Light-heavy – Joe Ward (Moate) (Bronze, at least)
91kg – Heavyweight – Darren O’Neill (Paulstown)
91+kg – Super-heavy – Dean Gardiner (Clonmel)

High-Performance Director/Head of Delegation: Bernard Dunne
Head Coach: Zaur Antia
Coaches: Dmitry Dimitruc, Jimmy Payne, Eoin Pluck
Physio: Seamus Caffrey
Doctor: Jim Clover
Strength & Conditioning: John Cleary
Performance Analysis: Alan Swanton