(APR 29) The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) is sending a very strong team to the forthcoming EUBC Junior European Boxing Championships, being held in Romania late May.

The tournament opens in Galati, on May 22.at the 7,000 seater Patinoarul Galati Arena. As Wikipedia tells us : “Galați is the capital city of Galați County, in the historical region of Moldavia, eastern Romania. Galați is a port town on the Danube River.” In 2011, the Romanian census recorded 249,432 residents, making it the 8th most populous city in Romania but by 2017 Eurostat shows that had increased to 514,429.

The Irish team – 12 Females and 13 Males – comprises of Open Cadet champions from the recent Finals at the National Stadium.

Team Ireland will be hoping to emulate or improve upon the team’s 3rd place in the table at the 2018 Championships in Russia which saw medals for:

54kg Ellie Mai Gartland (Clonmel) (Gold)
57kg Lauren Dempsey (Ryston) (Gold)
60kg Sinainn Glynn (Cloghan) (Silver)
70kg Lisa O’Rourke (Castlerea) (Silver)
80kg Patrick Myers (Sligo City) (Silver)
46kg Michael Donohue (St Michael’s Athy) (Bronze)
46kg Breda Quilligan (Rathkeale) (Bronze)
52kg John McConnell (Holy Trinity) (Bronze)
57kg Barry O’Connor (Sliabh Luachra, Kerry) (Bronze)
63kg Leanne Murphy (Togher) (Bronze)
66kg Leah Gallen (Raphoe) (Bronze)
75kg Kaitlyn Doyle (St Brigid’s Kildare) (Bronze)
80+kg Kori Goad (Cashen Vale,Kerry) (Bronze)

Boxers between the ages of 15 and 16 (based on the year of birth) are eligible to compete in the following weight categories:

Junior Boys and Girls: 44-46 kg, 48 kg, 50 kg, 52 kg, 54 kg, 57 kg, 60 kg, 63 kg, 66 kg, 70 kg, 75 kg, 80 kg, 80+ kg.

European Male and Female Junior Championships Galati, Romania, May 22/June 2

Irish squad:

Female:

46kg Breda Quilligan (Rathkeale, Limerick)
48kg Robyn Kelly (Ballynacargy, Westmeath)
50kg Marie Marine-Gabriel (Mulhuddart, Dublin)
52kg Rachael Lawless (Portlaoise, Laois)
54kg Aaliyah Butler (Monivea, Galway)
57kg Nicole O’Sullivan (Corinthians, Dublin)
60kg Shelby Myers (Crumlin, Dublin)
63kg Winnie McDonagh (Neilstown, Dublin)
66kg Tegan Farrell (Ratoath, Meath)
70kg Shauna Doherty (Sacred Heart, Dublin)
75kg Dearbhla Tinnelly (Clann Naofa, Louth)
80kg Margaret Stokes (Callan BC, Kilkenny)

Male:

46kg Dylan Eagleson (St Paul’s ,Antrim)
48kg Michael Donoghue (St Michael’s Athy, Kildare)
50kg Jason Nevin (Olympic Mullingar, Westmeath)
52kg Donagh Keary (Rathfriland ABC, Down)
54kg Mustafa Edris (Monkstown, Dublin)
57kg Martin McCullough (Gleann ABC, Antrim)
60kg Michael McCarthy (Mayfield, Cork)
63kg Thomas King (Ratoath, Meath)
66kg Taylor Guiney (Drimnagh, Dublin)
70kg Eoghan Lavin (Ballyhaunis, Mayo)
75kg Mark Duffy (Charlestown, Mayo)
80kg John Ward (Brosna, Kerry)
80+kg Thomas McDonnell (Docklands, Dublin)