(FEB 26) A young Irish team has
been named to take on ‘boxing powerhouse’ Ukraine in a double
header, Friday night at the National Stadium in Dublin with
Saturday’s ‘second leg’ at the St. Brigid’s Club in Kildare.
The visitors have some of the finest exponents in the women’s
sport in their team including Mariia Bova, Maryna Malovana, Nila
Lipska,Mariya Borutsa and Elvira Papirovych.
Let us not forget though that the Irish team does include
experienced International campaigners like Kelly Harrington (in
Dublin) and St.Brigid’s /Defence Forces star, Dervla Duffy (in
Kildare) so a nice blend of youth and experience with former
European and EU medallists Kelly and Dervla there to ‘roar on’
the newcomers. Garda BC’s Diane Campbell also returns to the
international scene.
The team, which also includes several 2015 Irish Elite champions
is lacking the services of such as Ceire Smith and Laoise
Traynor, on duty for an Irish selection at the Strandja Memorial
in Sofia this week. Missing too are Listowel’s Moira McElligott
who boxes out of the Rathkeale Club and Mayo’s Louise Donohue (Geesala
BC) due to work commitments and a hand injury respectively.
Kristina O’Hara has been called up to the Irish squad for
Friday’s clash in Dublin. So too new Irish Elite 60kg
titleholder Debbie O’Reilly from the Olympic BC.
Dealgan’s Emma Agnew is also included for the meeting at the
home of Irish boxing and at last a well-deserved first Irish
international vest for City of Belfast’s Fiona Nelson, an Irish
Elite champion in 2014 (in Kildare)
Meanwhile, Elaine Harrison and Cheyanne O’Neill will represent
their country in Saturday’s clash at the St Brigid’s BC in
Kildare.
AIBA World No. 8 ranked welterweight Clare Grace will line out
on Friday and again on Saturday, along with Irish Youth Olympian
Christina Desmond, a World Youth silver medallist, who Grace, a
European Elite bronze medallist, beat on a split decision in
January’s Elite 69kg final. Grace and Desmond are among
Ireland’s future brightest international prospects.
Irish women’s boxing is proudly sponsored by Quick Park of
Dublin Airport.
National Stadium 27th February
48kg Lauren Hogan (St Brigid’s Edenderry)
51kg Kristina O’Hara (St John Bosco, Belfast)
57kg Emma Agnew (Dealgan)
60kg Debbie O’Reilly (Olympic BC, Galway)
64kg Kelly Harrington (St Margaret’s Dublin)
64kg Sarah Close (Holy Family BC Belfast)
69kg Clare Grace (Callan BC)
69kg Christina Desmond (Macroom BC)
81+ Diane Campbell (Garda BC)
Kildare 28th February
48kg Lauren Hogan (St Brigid’s Edenderry)
51kg Elaine Harrison (Ballina BC)
57kg Dervla Duffy (St Brigid’s Kildare, Defence Forces)
60kg Cheyanne O’Neill (Athlone)
64kg Kayleigh McCormack (Kilfenora)
64kg Grainne Walsh (Spartacus)
69kg Clare Grace (Callan)
69kg Christina Desmond (Macroom)
81kg Fiona Nelson (City Of Belfast)
Ukraine:
Snizhana Kholodkova
Maryna Malovana
Ganna Okhrei
Nila Lipska
Mariia Bova
Olena Kolesnyk
Mariya Borutsa
Elvira Papirovych
