Michaela Walsh, Kellie Harrington and Grainne Walsh claimed three wins from three in the quarter-finals of the European Union Championships in Cascia, Italy today.

 

The Irish trio posted decisions over Moldova, Denmark and Wales and are each guaranteed at least bronze.

 

Grainne Walsh was involved in the bout of the day against European Elite bronze medallist Lauren Price. The Welsh welter took the first round on three cards, but Walsh claimed the second on three cards to leave it tied going into the third.

 

Walsh, however, pulled out all the stops to secure victory from a tremendous three rounds of boxing.

 

Harrington, a World Elite silver medallist, posted Ireland’s second win of the afternoon, the Dublin lightweight cruising past Denmark’s Ditteajaaja Frostholm to book her ticket into the last-four.

 

Michaela Walsh’s win was equally as emphatic, the Belfast bantam earning two 10-8 rounds versus Moldova’s Julia Coroli. Michaela and Harrington have won two bouts each so far at the 19-nation tournament.

 

High-Performance Director Bernard Dunne, speaking after today’s treble, hailed what he described as the top class performances of the Irish trio, adding that the wins were a tremendous confidence boost for the squad.

 

Kristina O’Hara and Kristina Desmond are in action tomorrow.

 

 

 

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) v Roberta Bonatte (Italy)
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) v Nouchka Fontijn (Netherlands)

August 9th

Q/Finals

57kg Dervla Duffy (Ireland) v Ornella Wahner (Germany)

S/Finals

54kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v Helena Envall (Sweden)

August 11th

60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v Irma Testa (Italy)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) v Sandy Shaw (England)

(Bout dates are subject to change)

Irish squad

48kg Kristina O’Hara (St John Bosco)
51kg Carly McNaul (Ormeau Road)
54kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) (Bronze, at least)
57kg Dervla Duffy (Mulhuddart)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Marys) (Bronze, at least)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus) (Bronze, at least)
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