(JULY 8) The 7th European Union women's Senior, Youth and Junior Championships have just ended in Keszthely, Hungary and in particular it has been a very successful tournament for Irish boxers.

For some 10 years now Irish fans have been used to reading about Taylor's win in far away lands where she alone has carried the Irish flag.

How things have changed! In this first article on the European union we bring you a review of the championships from an Irish perspective courtesy of iaba.ie and in our second installment later this week we will review the tournament and tell you who struck Gold, Silver and bronze in Keszthely at the weekend.

The 7th European Union Women's Senior, Youth and Junior Championships which ended in Hungary on Saturday night brought Ireland its biggest medal haul of any International tournament so far, male or female.

The medal-laden Quick Park sponsored 'Girls In Green' returned home to a rapturous reception at Dublin Airport on Sunday night following their heroic performances at the EU Women’s Championships in Hungary.

Fifteen medals, a record for Irish boxing, were claimed at the 23-nation tournament in Kezsthely.

Katie Taylor, Kristina O’Hara, Grainne Gavin, Amy Broadhurst and Jacqui Lynch went all the way and won gold.  In addition Taylor was once again named as on so many occasions in recent years, as best Boxer of the tournament.

Taylor, who has now won 15 major gold medals since 2005, said she was proud to be part of the Irish squad.

“I’m just proud to be part of this incredible team, said the Olympic, World, European, EU and Irish lightweight champion and three-time AIBA World Female Boxer of the Year. In Hungary she struck Gold at 60kg for a record fifth successive year.

“Five gold, three silver and seven bronze medals! It’s unbelievable to come away with so many medals from this tournament. The future of Irish women’s boxing is bright with all these young girls coming through,” added the AIBA Ambassador for Women’s Boxing.

IABA President Tommy Murphy added: “Our young athletes distinguished themselves in Hungary this week and they represented their country with pride and we cannot speak highly enough of them and our management and coaching staff at the tournament.
“The clubs and coaches also deserve enormous credit for this wonderful success and all credit to them. I would also like to thank Quick Park of Dublin Airport for sponsoring the team for the EU Championships.”

Commenting on the team’s success, Quick Park owner, businessman John O’Sullivan, said: “The Irish Ladies Boxing Team delivered outstanding performances during this year’s European Union Women’s Championships in Keszthely, Hungary.

“The sponsorship of the Irish ladies boxing team by Quick Park is something we are all very excited about. Boxing in Ireland is becoming increasingly popular and the Irish ladies boxing team are extremely talented and bound for further success”

Dr John Lynch, Chairman of the IABA Board of Directors, has hailed the performances of the Irish women’s squad at the EU Women’s Senior, Youth and Junior Championships in Hungary as a unique occasion for Irish amateur boxing and Irish sport.

“This is a unique occasion for the Irish Amateur Boxing Association and Irish sport and a reflection and testament to all the voluntary hard work of management, coaches and clubs and everybody involved with our sport, said Dr Lynch.

“Winning fifteen medals speaks for itself. Our athletes have surpassed themselves once again in international competition.

“They are tremendous source of pride to the Irish Amateur Boxing Association and this is another proud occasion for our sport.”

Jacqui Lynch struck gold in Ireland’s first final at the EU Women’s Senior, Youth and Junior Championships in Keszthely, Hungary today.

The Golden Gloves BC ace beat Poland’s Sarah Domagala on a unanimous decision to finish on top of the light-flyweight Junior podium at the Tennis Hall venue at the Helikon Hotel.

Grainne Gavin and Amy Broadhurst, the current European Junior champion, followed that up with gold medal wins in the bantamweight and featherweight Junior finals.

Gavin came through a tough opening frame with Germany’s Mandy Berk to produce another heroic performance, particularly in the final frame, en route to a unanimous decision.

Broadhurst made it three in-a-row at 57kg versus France’s Elisa Bouchlaka, the Dundalk southpaw getting the nod from all three judges across the board.

Ciara Sheedy, battling all the way down to the final bell, had to settle for silver against France’s Belinda Belmuka in the 63kg final. Sheedy won the first round of this encounter, but Belmuka turned it around in the final two frames to seal victory.

Kristina O’Hara maintained the gold rush in the first of the Youth finals.

The Belfast light-flyweight clearly won the first two rounds of her 48kg decider with Turkey’s Ayse Cagirir The Turk came back in the third, but O’Hara held firm to secure gold on a split decision.

Niamh Ball was in against current European champion Paulina Jakubcz of Poland and lost out on a unanimous decision.

“Niamh gave it absolutely everything she had and that’s all you can ask for. She boxed very well against a very experienced opponent,” said Liam Brereton from ringside in Keszthely.

Later on Saturday afternoon, AIBA World No. 1 Katie Taylor claimed her 5th successive EU gold and Ireland’s fifth gold medal of the afternoon with a unanimous decision over French champion Estelle Mosselly.

Taylor has now won 15 major gold medals at the Olympics, World Championships, European Championships and EU Championships since 2005.

The Bray woman took the opening two rounds of today’s four-rounder against her elusive opponent. The third may have finished even and Taylor won the fourth.

“I’m very proud to have won gold, said Taylor after securing Ireland’s fifth gold of the day. “The squad have been magnificent out here this week. To win so many medals! The future of Irish women’s boxing is very bright with so much talent coming through.”

Monaghan’s Lianne Murphy, the only Irish female boxer to reach an EU final besides Taylor, lost out in her bid for gold despite an heroic performance in the 81kg+ final.

Murphy was adjudged to have lost on a unanimous decision to Turkey’s Emine Bozduman, a generous margin given Murphy’s display over four rounds.

Pete Taylor, Zuar Antia, Gerry Storey, Paddy Hughes and Catherine Meli were working Ireland’s corner in Kezsthely.

EU Women’s Senior, Youth and Junior Championships Keszthely, Hungary

EU Junior Finals

48kg: Jacqui Lynch (Ireland) beat Sarah Domagala (Poland) 3-0
54kg: Grainne Gavin (Ireland) beat Mandy Berk (Germany) 3-0
57kg: Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) beat Elisa Bouchlaka (France) 3-0
63kg: Ciara Sheedy (Ireland) lost to Belinda Limuka (France) 0-3

EU Youth Finals

48kg: Kristina O’Hara (Ireland) beat Ayse Cagirir (Turkey) 2-1
57kg: Niamh Ball (Ireland) lost to Paulina Jakubcz (Poland) 0-3

EU Senior Finals

60kg: Katie Taylor (Ireland) beat Estelle Mosselly (France) 3-0
81kg+: Lianne Murphy (Ireland) lost to Emine Bozduman (Turkey) 0-3

Irish EU Medal Winners


Senior

60kg: Katie Taylor (Bray) (Gold)
69kg: Clare Grace (Callan) (Bronze)
81kg: Lianne Murphy (Carrickmacross) (Silver)

Youth

48kg: Kristina O’Hara (Emerald) (Gold)
54kg: Christine Gargan (St Georges) (Bronze)
57kg: Niamh Ball (Trojan) (Silver)
69kg: Christine Desmond (Macroom) (Bronze)
75kg: Cathy Higgins (Ardnaree) (Bronze)
81kg: Maeve McCarron (Carrigart) (Bronze)

Junior

48kg: Jacqui Lynch (Golden Gloves) (Gold)
54kg: Grainne Gavin (Castlebar) (Gold)
57kg: Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan) (Gold)
60kg: Ciara Ginty (Geesala) (Bronze)
63kg: Ciara Sheedy (Swinford) (Silver)
66kg: Leah Marie Doyle-Roche (St Brigids) (Bronze)
 

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