Silver linning for Ireland in European youth champions

IABA Press Officer Bernard O’Neill

Michael O’Reilly and Gary Sweeney had to settle for silver at the European Youth Championships which concluded at the Citywest Hotel Convention Centre in Dublin today.

O’Reilly dominated his welterweight final with Igor Kharitonov of Russia but was controversially adjudged to have lost 16-15.

Sweeney, meanwhile, produced a brilliant final round against Kharitonov’s compatriot, Vladimir Korsunov, but the Ballinrobe man lost out 16-13 in the light-heavyweight decider.

O’Reilly’s and Sweeney’s Irish team-mates, Stephen Broadhurst, Joe Fitzpatrick and Jack Morrissey, won a bronze medal each to take Ireland’s medal haul to five from the tournament.

Lithuania’s impressive Ricardas Kuncaitis claimed light-welterweight gold and the boxer of the tournament award at the Championships.

Russia, who won five gold medals today, won the best team award.

Russia, Azerbaijan and Ireland, in that order, finished in the top three positions at the 38-nation Championships.