Gallagher qualifies for Youth Olympics

Michael Gallagher booked his ticket for the 2014 Youth Olympics in emphatic style at the World Youth Championships box-offs in Sofia, Bulgaria this afternoon.

The Donegal heavyweight scored a unanimous decision over Thomas Ooman of the Netherlands.

Gallagher took all three rounds to win 30-27 across the board in Sofia. Gallagher and Christina Desmond will represent Ireland at the Youth Olympics in China in August.

Desmond beat Kazakhstan’s Valentina Khalzova on a split decision earlier today to qualify for China from the box-offs for the losing quarter-finalists.

It was a close one against the tricky Kazakh, but Desmond, who landed a sweet left right on the final bell and who also found the target with some big hooks off both hands throughout the four rounds, deservedly had her hand raised in victory.

The 18-year-old, who was edged out on a split decision in the 2013 AIBA World Youth welterweight final in Bulgaria by Gaukhar Ermekbay of Kazakhstan, punched the air in delight when the verdict was announced.

Meantime, for the second time in 24 hours Ciara Ginty was adjudged to have been beaten on a split decision in Sofia.

The current AIBA World Junior champion and 2013 AIBA World Junior Boxer of the Year lost to Yi-Pei Wu of Chinese Taipei this morning.

Boxing very well off the front and back foot against the constant aggression of her opponent, Ginty finished off the bout with a flourish, two big head shots finding the target.

But when it went back to the judges after a tie, the decision went to Wu.

Irish team manager Liam Brereton hailed Desmond’s and Gallagher’s performances, but said that they thought that Ginty had done enough to win and were stunned at the result.

Today’s bouts brings Ireland’s competitive interest in the 2014 AIBA World Youth Championships to a close.

The semi-finals of the World Youth Championships will be decided tomorrow. The finals will be decided on Thursday.

The Irish squad are due to arrive home via Dublin Airport at 11:30pm on Friday night, April 25th.

AIBA World Youth Box-Offs For Olympic Youth Games Sofia, Bulgaria