Ireland make strong start at European Junior Championships

Team Ireland kicked off their European Junior Championships campaign with three wins out of four in Anapa, Russia today.

Irish female captain Leanne Murphy and Niamh Fay advanced to the last eight on 4-1 splits, and John McConnell, who won on a 3-2 split, is back in action tomorrow in the last 16.

Rachel Lawless produced a big performance versus Italy’s Elaine Ayari in the 50kg class but the split verdict went against her.
Irish team managers Anna Moore and Joe Hennigan hailed the Irish quartet at the Black Sea holiday resort.

“All four boxed their hearts out today and gave it absolutely everything,” said Moore. “All the hard training is paying off as they were all brilliant today.”

Six Irish fighters are through the ropes tomorrow, with Michael Donoghue, Michael Maughan, Shane O’Brien, and McConnell in Last 16 action and Steven Cairns and Taylor Guiney fighting in the Round of 32.

European Junior Championships Anapa, Russia (October 8/17)
Tuesday October 9th
Last 16
50kg Rachel Lawless (Ireland) lost to Elaine Ayari (Italy) 1-4
52kg Niamh Fay (Ireland) beat Nikolina Boke (Latvia) 4-1
63kg Leanne Murphy (Ireland) beat Andreea Marin (Romania) 4-1
Last 32
52kg John McConnell (Ireland) beat Matvejs Prokudins (Latvia) 3-2

Wednesday October 10th
Last 16
46kg Michael Donoghue (Ireland) v Erik Yervandyan (Armenia)
48kg Michael Maughan (Ireland) v Mark Rozsavolgyi (Hungary)
50kg Shane O’Brien (Ireland) v Martin Balogh (Hungary)
52kg John McConnell (Ireland) v Evegeni Zhorov (Russia) or Aron Szallosy (Hungary)
Round of 32
60kg Steven Cairns (Ireland) v Giorgi Gegetchkori (Georgia)
63kg Taylor Guiney (Ireland) v Dmitry Zakharov (Russia)

Thursday October 11th
Last 16
54kg Patrick Sweeney (Ireland) v Zsolt Ziro (Hungary)
57kg Barry O’Connor (Ireland) v Galvan Lovakovic (Croatia)
Quarter-Finals
48kg Chloe Gabriel (Ireland) v Valeria Linkova (Russia)
52kg Niamh Fay (Ireland) v Marie Scott (England) or Filippa Giannakopoulov (Greece)
54kg Ellie Mai Gartland (Ireland) v Eva Poruma (Bulgaria)
75kg Kaitlyn Doyle (Ireland) v Roberta Andrei (Romania)
80kg Bethaney Doocey (Ireland) v Petroneia Schinte (Romania)
Semi-Finals
46kg Breda Quilligan (Ireland) v Zsanett Balogh (Hungary) or Garruze Soguksu (Turkey)
+80kg Rachel Hawkes (Ireland) v Oliwia Toborek (Poland)

Friday October 12th
Last 16
70kg Eoghan Lavin (Ireland) v Renato Kozak (Hungary)
75kg Jason Myers (Ireland) v Angelo Sparaco (Italy)
+80kg Bonvie Ndefi (Ireland) v Levente Kiss (Hungary)
Quarter-Finals
57kg Lauren Dempsey (Ireland) v Joseflen Betist (Netherlands)
60kg Sinainn Glynn (Ireland) v Alina Kantemirova (Russia)
63kg Leanne Murphy (Ireland) v Loretta Bostos (Hungary)
66kg Leah Gallen (Ireland) v Finja Bree (Germany)

Saturday October 13th
Quarter-Finals
80kg Patrick Myers (Ireland) v Matous Kusniarik (Czech Republic)

Monday October 15th
Semi-Finals
70kg Lisa O’Rourke (Ireland) v Annemarie Schierle (Germany) or Aleksandra Minkevich (Russia)

Irish squad

Male
46kg Michael Donohue (St Michaels Athy)
48kg Michael Maughan (Olympic)
50kg Shane O’Brien (Raging Bull)
52kg John McConnell (Holy Trinity)
54kg Patrick Sweeney (Olympic)
57kg Barry O’Connor (Sliabh Luachra)
60kg Steven Cairns (Legacy)
63kg Taylor Quiney (Drimnagh)
66kg William Hayden (Crumlin)
70kg Eoghan Lavin (Ballyhaunis)
75kg Jason Myers (Olympic)
80kg Patrick Myers (Sligo City)
80+kg Bonvie Ndefi (Olympic Mullingar)

Female
46kg Breda Quilligan (Rathkeale)
48kg Chloe Gabriel (Mulhuddart)
50kg Rachel Lawless (Portlaoise)
52kg Niamh Fay (Swords)
54kg Ellie Mai Gartland (Clonmel)
57kg Lauren Dempsey (Ryston)
60kg Sinainn Glynn (Cloghan)
63kg Leanne Murphy (Togher)
66kg Leah Gallen (Raphoe)
70kg Lisa O’Rourke (Castlerea)
75kg Kaitlyn Doyle (St Brigids Kildare)
80kg Bethany Doocey (Castlebar)
80+kg Kori Goad (Cahen Vale)

Team Managers
Anna Moore (St Francis)
Joe Hennigan (Connacht Council)

Coaches
Billy McClean (High Performance)
Eve Carr (Enniskerry)
Liam Cunningham (Saints)
James Doyle (Monkstown Dublin)
Brian Barry (Riverstown)
Martin Donovan (Our Lady of Lourdes)

Referee/Judge
Michael Gill (Ballymore/Hollywood)