(APR 16) The 2018 European
Youth Male and Female Championships – and Youth Olympic
qualifiers - will be held from 17 until 26 April in Roseto degli
Abruzzi (Italy).
EUBC President Franco Falcinelli said ‘These Championships are
valid for qualification to the World Championships and later the
Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires 2018. It will be another
very important sporting showcase for young boxers from all over
Europe.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the
Italian Boxing Federation for its strong commitment and
contribution to the development of European Boxing’.
The strong Irish contingent will be under the Team Manager,
Raphoe BC’s Peter O’Donnell who has managed several Irish
international teams in his long career. Speaking to Chris
McNulty in “Donegal Sports he commented:
“The honour of being appointed Irish Team Manager never gets any
less. It was a privilege to be selected to Manage the Irish team
for Italy. I had no hesitation in accepting the role, when
offered by Dominic O’Rourke, the IABA President. I am delighted
and honoured again to lead an Irish team to the European
Championships”
Ireland, has a very strong combined male/female team heading for
Italian shores on Tuesday. The female team will be Captained by
St. Brigid’s Edenderry’s Lauren Kelly. Lauren will be setting
off in quest of a third European medal but for those who do not
fully understand the trials and tribulations, illnesses and
injuries that boxers have to overcome, in their quest for Gold,
we spoke to St Brigid’s Head Coach, Liam Morley Brereton who
explained:
“Lauren has recovered from a major operation on her Elbow. We
searched ‘high and low’ to get a surgeon willing to do the
operation, finally we got one such specialist Ms Olivia Flaherty
. Months of rehabilitation, nights of coming into the club
sitting watching the other kids train, ‘buckets of tears
followed’; because of her expertise and Laura’s determination to
box again, she made a full recovery but with little time to
train for Europeans in 2017 where she won bronze beaten only by
the World champion from Russia - now with a year’s preparation
for these Youth Championship, a very proud Irish team Captain
Lauren is ready to go for gold.”
She, her family and club coaches agree she owes her continued
presence on the boxing circuit to Ms Olivia Flannery MBChB, MCh,
FRCS (Tr&Orth), EBHS Dip Consultant Orthopaedic and Hand Surgeon
at the Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown and Heritage Sports
Clinic.
Brereton again:
“Lauren made a full recovery, that started with Lauren just
coming into the club sitting there watching everyone else train.
Many nights I heard her say ’they’re wrong I will box again’ -
with teared filled eyes -They’re wrong Coach they are wrong,
three months passed and she still turn up now asking ‘can I
shadow box just shadow box please? I contacted Dr Flannery , she
agreed to let here start shadow boxing. There’s nothing certain
here. It will either work or not, Dr Flannery’s view was.
The girl was so determined that nothing was taking her chosen
sport from her, nothing, days came in many ways happy ones ,sad
ones & tears of pain. There were nights she ran from ring to
dressing room crying, the club would ‘go quiet’ ,everyone felt
her pain, 17 and her sport was over? Members and even some
parents in the club would say she’s not going to Box again you
will have to make or face up to it. She’d appear back on the
floor and say to all “ I’m ok I’m going to do this” and do it
she did.
We’ll have more on these European Championships in the coming
weeks. Kane Tucker leads the Irish men’s team also hopeful for a
few medals as usual in major International events.
European Men’s and Women’s Youth Championships Roseto degli
Abruzzi, Italy April 17/26
Male:
49kg Jude Gallagher (Two Castles)
52kg Dean Clancy (Ballinacarrow)
56kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michael’s Athy)
60kg Alex Higgins (Fr Horgan’s Cork)
64kg Callum Walsh (Riverstown)
69kg Edward Donovan (O.L.O.L.)
75kg Kane Tucker (Holy Family GG) – Team Captain
81kg Edward Barrett (Olympic)
Female
48kg Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry)
51kg Caitlyn Fryers (Immaculata Belfast)
54kg Mary Geraghty (Baldoyle)
57kg Dearbhla Rooney (Sean McDermott)
60kg Aoibhe Ginty (Geesala Mayo)
64kg Evelyn Igharo (Clann Naofa)
75kg Lauren Kelly (St Brigid’s Edenderry) - Team Captain
81kg Aoibhe Carabine (Geesala Mayo)
Team Manager: Peter O’Donnell and Fiona Hennigan
Coaches: Billy McClean, Michael Carruth, Michael Mongan, Anita
Just
