FIVE more Irish boxers secure World Championships qualification

Five young Irish boxers have been handed qualification spots for the upcoming World Youth Championships in Hungary.

This year’s tournament is the first since the controversial decision to change the format from an open-entry competition to one requiring qualification.

The European Youth Championships in Italy in April was the sole qualifier and Ireland’s six medalists – Daina Moorehouse (gold), Jude Gallagher (bronze), Dean Clancy (silver), Dearbhla Rooney (silver), Evelyn Igharo (silver), Lauren Kelly (bronze), – along with Brandon McCarthy and Edward Barrett, fulfilled the qualification standard.

Kelly and Clancy have also since secured spots at the Youth Olympics in Argentina this October.

It was then announced last month that the AIBA would be increasing quotas for Budapest from 244 to 300 for males and 174 to 200 for females – with Callum Walsh looking likely to be the only Irish boxer to benefit.

Walsh has indeed secured a spot but, with slots being passed around, Alex Higgins, Edward Donovan, Caitlin Fryers, and Mary Geraghty will all now also be on the plane.

However, Igharo and Barrett are no longer listed to participate.

This year will be the first time that the World Youths for both genders will run concurrently.

At the last women’s championships, last year, Fryers and Katelynn Phelan won bronze. At the last men’s competition back in 2016, Gabriel Dossen and Michael Nevin won bronze.
 
World Men’s & Women’s Youth Championships Budapest, Hungary August 20-31
 
48kg Daina Moorhouse (Enniskerry)
49kg Jude Gallagher (Two Castles)
51kg Caitlin Fryers (Immaculata)
54kg Mary Geraghty (Baldoyle)
52kg Dean Clancy (Ballinacarrow)
56kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michael’s Athy)
57kg Dearbhla Rooney (Sean McDermott’s)
60kg Alex Higgins (Fr Horgan’s)
64kg Callum Walsh (Riverstown)
69kg Edward Donovan (OLOL)
75kg Lauren Kelly (St Brigid’s Edenderry) 
 
Team manager: Stephen Connolly and Tara Mari Robins
Head coach: Billy McClean
Coaches: Michael Carruth, Michael Mongan, Anita Just
Physio: David Cooke