MEDAL ALERT – Jobstown’s Cillian Reilly gets the job done
Cillian Reilly brought Ireland into double figures in terms of European Junior medals this evening.
The last Irish fighter through the ropes on an action-packed day won Ireland’s 10th medal of these championships.
The Jobstown fighter got the job done against Armenia’s Marat Mikaelyan to win light welterweight bronze at the very least.
The Irish champion dominated a scrappy fight but there was cause for concern when he was docked a point in the second, meaning a tense and tentative third.
The emerging talent dealt with the situation well, slightly altering his tactics in the last to ensure he avoided annoying the referee further – and thus earning a prestigious continental medal.
The win means Ireland have now won TEN medals at least in Italy with Dub Reilly joining Grace Conway, Niamh Keogh, Ava Henry, Sophie Gray, Alfie Jordan, Tadhg O’Donnell, Jamie Collins, John Harty and Mary McDonagh on the podium.
Reilly didn’t take long to figure out how to best bypass his opponent’s long reach. The Tallaght fighter slipped his way inside and let his hands go to good effect, he also landed some lunging right hands to test the chin of the tall Armenian in a first-round he won 5-0.
That looping long right hand was equally as effective in the second as the Jobstown fighter continued his march toward the semis. However, a point deduction gave his opponent a glimmer of hope going into the last.
The Irish youngster employed his jab a lot more in the final session, trying to avoid the type of scrappy inside fighting that may have frustrated a picky referee again. It was less aggressive from the man in blue but equally effective as he won the round to secure his medal.
Reilly will look to upgrade to silver when he competes in the semi-finals.
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
