Strong Irish squad named for multi nations tournament

European Games champion Michael O’Reilly and European Games silver medallist Brendan Irvine have been named in an 11-strong Irish squad for the Strandja multi-nations in Bulgaria.

Former European Elite champion Ray Moylette and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Michaela Walsh have also been called up to the panel for the 67th edition of the tournament which begins on February 22nd.

Meanwhile, World Elite champion Michael Conlan and European Elite and European Games bronze medallists Dean Walsh and Sean McComb are included on the Irish team for next month’s GeeBee multi-nations in Finland.

The Irish Elite squad are currently in training camp with the Ulster Elite and High Performance sides and Russia at the University of Ulster in Antrim.

The training camp ends on Friday, as Ireland moves up a gear in the build up toward April’s crucial Olympic qualifiers in Turkey.
67th Strandja Multi-Nations Sofia, Bulgaria, February 22/28

Male

52kg Brendan Irvine (St Pauls)

60kg Gary Cully (St Davids)

64kg Ray Moylette (St Annes)

69kg Wayne Kelly (Ballynacargy)

75kg Michael O’Reilly (Portlaoise)

81kg JP Delaney (Emerald)

91kg Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield)

+91kg Thomas Carty (Glasnevin)

Female

51kg Michaela Walsh (Holy Family)

60kg Shauna Browne-O’Keefe (Clonmel)

75kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)

Coaches: Zaur Antia, John Conlan, Jimmy Halpin

Team Manager: Joe Hennigan

Physio: Julianne Ryan

Analyst: Alan Swanton

R&J: John Mongan

35th GeeBee Multi Nations Helsinki, Finland March 10/14

49kg Stephen McKenna (Old School)

52kg TJ Waite (Ormeau Road)

56kg Michael Conlan (Clonard)

60kg Sean McComb (Holy Trinity)

64kg Dean Walsh (St Joesphs/St Ibars)

91kg Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield)

Coaches: Dmitry Dmitruk, Noel Burke

Physio: Ursula Brooks

R&J: Jim Murrin