MEDAL ALERT – Grace Conway upgrades to silver at least
Grace Conway traded in her bronze for silver at least with an impressive semi-final win in Italy today.
The talented teen defeated Turkey’s Balta Humyra to reach the 48kg European Junior Championship final.
The Tredagh BC prospect showed her quality and skill set from start to finish to win a competitive fight rather comfortably, being afforded a unanimous decision in a fight where she afforded a 10-8 twice.
Conway will now look to make it European GOLD when she competes in Tuesday’s final.
Conway started fast and let straight shots fly from the opening bell. A long southpaw jab scored regular and the backhand warned her opponent against trying to rush forward. The Turk was game and full of effort but the Tredagh BC fighter dominated the round on all five cards, one even scored 10-8 in her favour.
Humyra upped the tempo in the second and tried to machine-gun her way forward, but she walked onto Conway’s stiff southpaw jab more often than not. The Louth fighter was happily stinging from range and the majority of the judges were happy with her approach, as she put one foot in the final by increasing her lead.
Conway only had to avoid disaster in the last to reach a European final but she was enjoying herself and wasn’t settling for just survival.
The Drogheda native put on a skills show and won the round wide for good measure.
Sofie Curley attempted to trade in her bronze for silver earlier in the session but lost after an eventful fight with Turkey’s 46kg representative.
Team Ireland Squad
Male Boxers:
1. 44-46kg Alfie Jordan (Olympic L)
2. 48kg Jamie Collins (Drimnagh)
3. 50kg Calvin Doyle (Olympic L)
4. 52kg Johnny Harty (Portlaoise)
5. 54kg James Kelly (Holy Trinity)
6. 57kg Callum Carrager (Tredagh)
7. 60kg Ryan Jenkins (Olympic L)
8. 63kg Cillian Reilly (Jobstown)
9. 66kg Tadhg O’Donnell (Four Kings)
10. 70kg Charlie Valbergs (Cherry Orchard). Team Captain
11. 75kg Dylan McShane (St Pauls A)
12. 80kg Jack Teggart Weatherall (St Pauls A)
13. 80+kg Adam Olaniyan (Jobstown)
Female Boxers
1. 44-46kg Sophie Curley Gray (Dealgan)
2. 50kg Grace Conway (Tredagh)
3. 52kg Carlagh Peake (Ballyhaunis)
4. 54kg Niamh Keogh (Olympic L)
5. 57kg Siofra Lawless (Liberty)
6. 60kg Ava Henry (Docklands) Team Captain,
7. 63kg Kayleigh Whelan (Avona)
8. 66kg Sarah Murphy (St Brigids L)
9. 70kg Jodie Byrne (St Teresa’s)
10. 75kg Mary McDonagh (Sliabh Luachra)
11. 80kg Shauna Crehan (Dunboyne)
Team Manager
Martin Fennessy
Coaches
1. Ralph McKay
2. Liam Cunningham
3. Paul O’Toole
4. Linda Morgan
Referee/Judge
Philip Hollowed
