MEDAL ALERT: John Moran guarantees bronze at Commonwealth Youths
Donegal light flyweight John Moran guaranteed the first Irish medal of the 2017 Commonwealth Games this evening in the Bahamas.
The Derry-born little man was triumphant in his opening bout at the multi-sport tournament, comprehensively winning his 49kg quarter final encounter with Samoan Seanoa Hall, a fight in which he barely left second gear.
Moran was over two years older than Hall, who doesn’t turn 16 until Saturday, and completely dominated the brave Pacific Islander to claim a unanimous decision win and guarantee bronze at the Games.
The Illies GG teen now faces a big test in the semis on Saturday where he takes on Welsh talent James Probert – a World and European Junior bronze medalist in 2015 as well as a European Schoolboys bronze medalist the year previously.
Probert defeated Sri Lankan Kavinda Sanjaya Samutun Mudiyansela on a 4-1 split in their quarter final.
At the last edition of the Games, in Samoa in 2016, light flyweight Stevie McKenna claimed gold, a feat Moran will be looking to emulate.
Commonwealth Youth Games VI, Bahamas
Wednesday July 19th
(L16) 60kg – Dominic Bradley lost to Rhys Edwards (Wales) 2-3
(L16) 56kg – Colm Murphy beat Ahmed Faraz (Scotland) 5-0
Thursday July 20th
(QF) 49kg – John Moran beat Seanoa Hall (Samoa) 5-0
(QF) 56kg – Colm Murphy v Sean Finnigan (Canada)
(QF) 75kg – Kane Tucker v Reekie Ryan (Scotland)
Friday July 21th
(QF) 52kg – Kian Bittles v Allicock Keevin (Guyana)
(QF) 69kg – Anthony Johnston v Ah Tong Marion (Samoa)
Saturday July 22nd
(SF) 49kg – John Moran v James Probert (Wales)
Northern Ireland Team
49kg – John Moran (Illies GG) (Bronze, at least)
52kg – Kian Bittles (Holy Trinity)
56kg – Colm Murphy (St George’s)
60kg – Dominic Bradley (captain) (Errigal)
69kg – Anthony Johnston (Gleann)
75kg – Kane Tucker (Holy Trinity)
