Injury blow for Joyce
10 March 2009 – By Cormac Campbell
World Youth star David Joe Joyce has withdrawn from the Irish squad for this weeks Danas Pozniakas Olympic Youth tournament in Lithuania after picking up a hand injury.
The St Michael’s Athy middleweight, who claimed bronze at the 2008 AIBA World Youth Championships in Guadalajara Mexico, injured his left hand and has been replaced by Bernard Roe of the Dublin Docklands club.
The IABA have named a four-man squad for the eight-nation box off which gets underway in Vilnius tomorrow (March 11).
The prestigious tournament is named in honour of Danas Pozniakas, who won light heavyweight gold for Lithuania at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.
Current AIBA World Youth champion Ray Moylette (bronze), Tyrone McKenna (bronze) and Jason Quigley (silver) finished amongst the medals at the 2008 Danas Pozniakas tournament.
Reigning Irish senior champions Con Sheehan and John Joe Nevin – who represented Ireland at the Beijing Olympics – Mark McCullagh, Anthony Cacace and Michael Collins finished in podium positions at the 2007 event.
Irish coach Jim Moore said: “We performed very well on our last two visits to Lithuania. Ireland has earned a lot of respect at this tournament over the last two years and will be looking to maintain that level of performance this week.”
The Irish squad and management depart for Vilnius on Wednesday morning.
Irish squad for Danas Pozniakas Tournament Vilnius Lithuania March 11/16
51Kg: Gary Molloy (Moate),
60Kg: Charlie Haggerty (Golden Cobra),
69Kg: Jason Quigley (Finn Valley)
75Kg: Bernard Roe (Dublin Docklands)
