(SEPT 7)  The 2019 EUBC Youth championships (male and female) are now reaching the final days bouts at the Sports Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The EUBC tells us that ‘Boxers who were born in 2001 and in 2002 are eligible to compete these Championships. Altogether 37 nations are taking part in this prestigious tournament. The total number of boxers competing for titles is 339 including 126 female athletes and 213 males.

The 37 countries are : Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales.

The first edition of the event was held in Miskolc, Hungary in 1970 and during the history of the continental event Bulgaria has never hosted it. The last edition was held in Roseto degli Abruzzi which was a Qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games of 2018 held in Buenos Aires.

As always, Ireland has entered a very strong team and have had many successes thus far with but a few defeats.

On Friday, Nicole Clyde, Niamh Fay and Lisa O’Rourke had their hands raised in victory.

The Irish trio decisioned Dutch flyweight Juna Schop, Italian bantam Sharon Prisco and Croatian middle Ivona Drnic.

Evelyn Igharo bowed out after a tough encounter with England’s Paige Richardson.

O’Rourke, whose sister Aoife claimed European Elite gold in Madrid six days ago, won on a 4-1 split verdict against Drnic, who is, almost ironically, from Split, Croatia.

Meanwhile, Enniskerry light-fly Daina Moorehouse, the 2018 European Youth champion, meets Rim Bennama of France on Saturday looking to claim her second successive medal at this level.

Nine Irish boxers will compete for at least bronze in the quarter-finals of the European Youth Championships in Sofia tomorrow and Sunday.

Dean Clancy progressed to the last eight this afternoon following a convincing victory over Armenia’s Artur Shakhpazyan in the 56kg class.

Clancy took all three rounds ‘en route’ to the last eight.

Brandon McCarthy was desperately unlucky not to advance. The St Michael’s Athy man was adjudged to have lost a lively encounter with Georgian lightweight Shalva Sajaia on a 3-2 split.

Two of the judges scored all three rounds to McCarthy (30-27 x 2) but the other three marked it 29-28 apiece to Sajaia.

Jack Marley ended the day on a high note for Ireland with a thrilling win over Bernhard Rentmeister.

The tall and rangy German heavy was rocked by a sweeping left hook in the second round and took a count off a combination moments later in a memorable win for the Dubliner.

We will update you on the final stages in the days ahead.