SILVER LINING – Graceful Grace Conway Reaches European Final
Grace Conway will go for gold on European Youth Championships finals day.
The Louth boxer traded in her bronze medal for silver – at least – with another impressive display in Porec, Croatia today.
Conway got a busy day off to a brilliant start by claiming 52kg semi-final victory.
The two-time European medalist claimed a 3-2 split decision win over Madalina Grabucea of Italy, although that scorecard doesn’t reflect how dominant and comfortable she was.
The pride of Tredagh boxed brilliantly from start to finish and at one stage looked like she could have secured a stoppage win.
As it was she got the nod on the cards and moved into the European Youth final. It’s the second time Conway has graced a European final and the second time she has secured silver.
The teen was pipped by Italian opposition in the 2022 European Junior decider, she will be looking to go one better this time around.
Five more Irish boxers will look to add a silver lining today, with Ava Henry, Kyla Doyle, Ryan Jenkins, Tadgh O’Donnell and Adam Olaniyan in semi final action later today.
It was simple but wonderfully effective from Conway in the first. The Tredagh talent was up on her toes from where she fired straight shots down the middle, scoring regularly with textbook one-twos as she opened a 4-1 lead.
The Italian did manage to close the space somewhat in the second but she continually ate leather as she moved in.
One southpaw backhand left in particular tested her legs and forced the referee to give her a standing eight count.
By that stage the Louth native was purring and was landing so crisp and clean she flirted with securing a semi-final stoppage win before the bell to end the stanza.
To her credit Grabucea continued to show the kind of endeavour two of the five judges liked in the third. She kept Conway honest, made her work and ensured the final session was a bit scrappier. Yet still it was a round Conway took to put a second foot in the 52kg final.
Team
48kg Tiffany Spencer, Jobstown BC, Dublin
50kg Carlagh Peake, Ballyhaunis BC, Mayo.
52kg Grace Conway Dowling, Tredagh BC, Louth
54kg Nicole Kinsella, St. Mary’s BC, NR, Wexford
63kg Ava Henry, Dublin Docklands BC.
66kg Kyla Doyle Byrne, Whitechurch BC, Dublin
48kg Scott Thompson, Spartans BC, Antrim
51kg Jamie Collins, Drimnagh BC, Dublin
54kg Kai Ducque, Avona BC, Dublin
57kg Martin McDonagh, Avona BC, Dublin.
60kg Jack Johnson, Marble City BC, Kilkenny
63.5kg Ryan Jenkins, Olympic BC, Westmeath
67kg Ryan Connolly, Setanta BC, Kildare.
71kg Tadhg O’Donnell, Four Kings BC, Wicklow.
92+kg Adam Olaniyan, Jobstown BC, Dublin.
Team Manager: Anna Moore
Coach: Liam Cunningham
Coach: Amanda Spencer
Coach: Garry Kehoe
Coach: Ralph McKay
R&J: Stephen Kelly
Draws are available here
Day One results are available here
Day Two results are available here
Day Three results are available here
Day Four results are available here
Day Five results are available here
Day Six results are available here
Day Seven results are available here
