Kurt Walker begins hunt for gold at European U22 Championships

Three-time Irish Elite champion Kurt Walker made it three on the bounce at the European U22 Championships in Braila, Romania today.

The Canal bantamweight followed Dublin flyweight Jordan Moore who also won earlier, with a 4-1 split decision win over Adrian Powal of Poland.

The Lisburn fighter was given a tough test by the strong Pole, but had too much skill in the end.

The Ulster stylist, who is targeting gold, will now meet Raffaele di Serio of Italy in the last 16.

Irish captain Thomas Carty, Geoffrey Kavanagh and Eugene McKeever are in action tomorrow in Romania.

European U/22 Championships Braila, Romania March 14th/22nd

March 14th
Last 32
75kg: Keyln Cassidy (Ireland) beat Armen Minasyan (Armenia) 5-0

March 15th
Last 16
52kg: Jordan Moore (Ireland) beat Andry Tyshkavenko (Ukraine) 4-1

Last 32
56kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) beat Adrian Powal (Poland) 4-1

March 16th
Last 16
69kg Eugene McKeever (Ireland) v Vitalii Tereshchuk (Ukraine)
91kg Geoffrey Kavanagh (Ireland) v Adam Hamari (Hungary)
91kg+: Thomas Carty (Ireland) v Vitalii Pakuliak (Ukraine)

March 17th
Last 16
56kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) v Raffaele di Serio (Italy)
60kg: Dylan Duffy (Ireland) v Romano Marengo (Netherlands)
64kg: Keith Flavin (Ireland) v Mikhail Baisiakov (Belarus)
75kg: Keyln Cassidy (Ireland) v Salvatore Cavallaro (Italy)
81kg: Brian Kennedy (Ireland) v Polneikis Kalamaras (Greece)

March 18th
Q/Final
52kg: Jordan Moore (Ireland) v William Cawley (England)

Irish squad
52kg Jordan Moore (Glasnevin)
56kg Kurt Walker (Canal)
60kg Dylan Duffy (Pegasus)
64kg Keith Flavin (Paulstown)
69kg Eugene McKeever (Holy Family Drogheda)
75kg Keyln Cassidy (Saviours Crystal)
81kg Brian Kennedy (St Marys Daingean)
91kg Geoffrey Kavanagh (Glasnevin)
91+kg Thomas Carty (Glasnevin) Captain

Team Manager: Paddy Osbourne
Coaches: Zaur Antia, Pat McDonagh
R&J: Philip Rooney