Bernard O’Neill (IABA)
Martin Conroy, Luke Thomas and John Nevin are guaranteed at least a bronze medal each at the 34-nation European Junior Championships in Keszthely, Hungary following a hat-trick of quarter-final wins over the last 24-hours.
Nevin progressed to the last-four following a countback win over Christian Doychev of Bulgaria on Wednesday and he was joined in the semi-finals by Cork light-welterweight Thomas and Mayo middleweight Conroy today.
Before Team left for European Junior Championships (Photo Louis O Meara)
High Quality Photo
Thomas beat Aliaksandr Vashchyla of Belarus 15-8 and Conroy recorded a 8-5 decision over Veselen Todorov of Bulgaria this afternoon.
Shane McIntyre,Aaron Kelly and Patrick Gaffey bowed out at the quarter-final stage this afternoon despite fine performances in Keszthely.
Nevin and Thomas will now meet English opponents, Pat McCormack and Isaac McLeod, in Friday’s semi-finals.
Conroy, of the Ballyhaunis BC, will face Vasily Tsitsilashvili of Georgia in the last four tomorrow.
Boxing begins at 1pm (Irish time) on Friday. The finals will be held Saturday.
The European Junior Championships wins arrive less than a week after Joe Ward and Ray Moylette claimed double gold at the European Senior Championships in Turkey.
European Junior Championships Keszthely, Hungary
June 27th Preliminaries
46Kg: Kurt Walker (Ireland) lost to Vitur Vereamov (Russia) 4-7
48Kg: Hughie Joyce (Ireland) lost to Victor Petrov (Ukraine) 10-11
54Kg; Rory Lavery (Ireland) lost to Shamil Askerov (Russia) 5-13
57Kg: Caoimhin Hynes (Ireland) beat Florin Nastast (Romania) 12-6
71Kg: Martin Conroy (Ireland) beat Toni Filip (Croatia) 11-2
June 28th (last 16)
50Kg: John Nevin (Ireland) beat Zora Hamazaryan (Armenia) 7-6
52Kg: Hughie Nevin (Ireland) lost to Nicolai Zgircea (Moldova) 10-11
60Kg: Daniel McInerney (Ireland) lost to Vladimir Popov (Lithuania) 12-14
63Kg: Luke Thomas (Ireland) beat Edyard Garbuzov (Ukraine) 10-5
66Kg: Shane McIntyre (Ireland) beat Simon Palsson (Sweden) 8-6
70Kg: David Kennedy (Ireland) lost to Evgeny Martynenko (Israel) 9-11
June 29th Q/Finals
50Kg: John Nevin (Ireland) beat Christian Doychev (Bulgaria) 5-5 c/b 33-25
57Kg: Caoimhin Hynes (Ireland) lost to Arsen Ablayev (Ukraine) 7-11
June 30th Q/Finals
63Kg: Luke Thomas (Ireland) beat Aliaksandr Vashchyla (Belarus) 15-8
66Kg; Shane McIntyre (Ireland) lost to Luka Prtenjaco (Croatia) 7-17
75Kg: Martin Conroy (Ireland) beat Veselen Todorov (Bulgaria) 8-5
80Kg: Patrick Gaffey (Ireland) lost to Rahil Mammadli (Azerbaijan) 6-10
86+Kg: Aaron Kelly (Ireland) lost to Andrey Stotskiy (Russia) 5-21
July 1st S/finals
50Kg: John Nevin (Ireland) v Pat McCormack (England)
63Kg; Luke Thomas (Ireland) v Isaac McLeod (England)
75Kg: Martin Conroy (Ireland) v Vasily Tsitsilashvili (Georgia)
Irish squad
46Kg: Kurt Walker (Canal)
48Kg: Hughie Joyce (St Michael’s Athy)
50Kg: John Nevin (Cavan)
52Kg: Hughie Nevin (Cavan)
54Kg: Rory Lavery (St Bronaghs)
57Kg: Caoimhin Hynes Hynes (Holy Trinity)
60Kg: Daniel McInerney (Brosna)
63Kg; Luke Thomas (Watergrasshill)
66Kg: Shane McIntyre (Golden Gloves)
70Kg: David Kennedy (Gorey)
75Kg; Martin Conroy (Ballyhaunis)
80Kg: Patrick Gaffey (Clann Naofa)
86+Kg: Aaron Kelly (Mount Tallant)
Support Team;
Team manager: Paddy Osborne
Coaches: Billy McClean, Tony Davitt & James O’Neill
R/J : Philip Rooney
Physiotherapist: Eoin Naughton
Director of Boxing: Dominic O’Rourke
