Patsy Joyce has to settle for European bronze
Patsy Joyce has to settle for European Youth Championship bronze after suffering defeat in Sofia today.
Joyce came out on the wrong side of a unanimous points decision in a 48kg semi-final.
The decorated teenager secured bronze with victory over Ukraine’s Vladislav Kondratuk on Tuesday and within 24 hours was looking to become a European silver medal winner.
However, he was unable to find passage past the talented Kanan Babayev of Azerbaijan. Joyce didn’t have the same spring in his step as yesterday and once Babayev figured out his long jab he always looked destined to win.
Joyce, who to his credit took a first-ever defeat extremely well, will be disappointed initially, but once the immediate pain of defeat wears off he can reflect on a great tournament and a great achievement.
The six-time Irish champion is now also a European medalist and you can be sure the confident and vocal youngster will have no issue letting people know that’s the case.
Serenaded by Anna Moore’s rendition of the Fields of Athenry, Joyce started off where he left off yesterday. His southpaw jab instantly became the most effective punch in the first half of the round and it looked like he was set to assert dominance. However, as the stanza progressed Babayev managed to close the distance and had enough success mid to close range to win the round on four of the judge’s scorecards.
Joyce employed a righter guard when his opponent was in range in the second and it allowed him to catch and counter. His footwork was also improved but he was in against a quality foe who was more suited to the scrappier nature of the fight and retained the advantage going into the last.
The Olympic Mullingar flyweight’s style doesn’t lend itself to pressing for a result-changing knockout, so all he could do was push to win the round wide. He was given hope in that regard when Babayev was docked a point – but all hope of victory was gone when the Westmeath fighter also fell foul of the referee just seconds later.
Team Ireland has won a record eight medals at this European Youth Championships. Seven more fighters will look to improve bronze to silver across a busy day for the sport.
Ring A, Afternoon Session – watch here
Bout 8: 48kg Georgia Dunn McGovern V Filiz Isik of Turkey
Bout 12: 70kg Laura Moran V Oliwia Marta Czerwinska of Poland
Bout 14: 81kg Dearbhla Tinnelly V Sofia Stigen Sorensen
Ring B, Afternoon Session – watch here
Bout 11: 63kg Winnie McDonagh V Valentina Marra of Italy
Ring A, Evening Session
Bout 8: 50kg Katie O’Keeffe V Jessica Vollmann of Germany
Ring B, Evening Session
Bout 4: 71kg Bobbi Flood v Mirko Sarcevic, MNE
Bout 11: 81kg+ Cliona D’Arcy V Maja Weronika Bochen of Poland.
Team Ireland Squad:
48kg: Georgia McGovern, Setanta
48kg: Patsy Joyce, Olympic
50kg: Katie O’Keefe, Kanturk
51kg: Adam McKenna, Holy Family
52kg: Esther Lambe, Setanta
54kg: Shakira Donoghue, Templemore
54kg: Gavin Ryan, Ratoath
57kg: Yasmin Meredith, Corinthians: Team Captain
57kg: John Donoghue, St Michaels Athy
60kg: Jason Nevin, Olympic
63kg: Winnie McDonagh, Neilstown
63.5kg: Tom McDonnell, Docklands
66kg: Gabrielle Mongan, Whitechurch
67kg: Jim Donovan, Our Lady of Lourdes
70kg: Laura Moran, St Annes
71kg: Bobbi Flood, Cabra: Team Captain.
75kg: Emma Keating, Paulstown
75kg: Joshua Olaniyan, Jobstown
80kg: Ryan Murphy, Neilstown
81kg: Dearbhla Tinnelly, Clann Naofa
81+kg: Cliona Darcy, Tobar Pheadair
86kg: Nathan Ojo, Esker
92kg: David J McDonagh, Olympic
92+kg: Bernie Cawley, St David’s, Naas
Team Manager:
Anna Moore
Coaches:
James Doyle
Liam Cunningham
Aoife Hennigan
Gerard McDaid
Jim O’Neill
R & J:
Martin O’Neill
