AmateurHeadline News

Harrington claims SILVER at EU Championships – Walsh controversially defeated


Kelly Harrington guaranteed EU lightweight silver this afternoon in Italy, but Offaly welterweight Gráinne Walsh was controversially eliminated after a split decision loss.

Dubliner Harrington now joins Belfast bantam Michaela Walsh in tomorrow’s finals in Cascia.

Harrington outboxed Rio Olympian and former underage sensation Irma Testa of Italy. Switch-hitting throughout with incisive attacks, the Dubliner was on top against the home favourite for the duration to claim a unanimous decision win deservedly bag a silver.

The St Mary’s boxer will now face Katie Taylor’s Olympic conqueror Mira Potkonen in the final.

Minutes later Walsh was in the ring in her semi final and was involved in a real battle with German Nadine Apetz. The heavy hitting Walsh got stronger as the bout went on and forced a standing count in the closing seconds of the final round.

However it was not enough and the Sparticus star was extremely harshly adjudged to have lost on a split decision – and was absolutely furious when the result was called

European Union Women’s Championships Cascia, Italy August 4th/13th
August 5th
Last 16
54kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Ebonie Jones (England) 5-0
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Kinga Szalachcic (Poland) 4-1

August 6th
Last 16
48kg Kristina O’Hara (Ireland) beat Saru Lehtonen (Finland) 5-0
51kg Carly McNaul (Ireland) lost to Wassila Lkhadiri (France) 2-3
57kg Dervla Duffy (Ireland) beat Kinga Mezovari (Hungary) 5-0

August 7th
Q/finals
54kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Julia Coroli (Moldova) 5-0
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Ditteajaaja Frostholm (Denmark) 5-0
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) beat Lauren Price (Wales) 3-2

August 8th
Q/Finals
48kg Kristina O’Hara (Ireland) lost to Roberta Bonatte (Italy) 1-4
75kg Christina Desmond (Ireland) lost to Nouchka Fontijn (Netherlands) 0-5

August 9th
Q/Finals
57kg Dervla Duffy (Ireland) lost to Ornella Wahner (Germany) 0-5

S/Finals
54kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Helena Envall (Sweden) 5-0

August 11th
S/Finals
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Irma Testa (Italy) 5-0
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) lost to Nadine Apetz (Germany) split

August 12th
Final
54kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v Azize Nimani (Germany)
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v Mira Potkonen (Finland)

Irish squad
48kg Kristina O’Hara (St John Bosco)
51kg Carly McNaul (Ormeau Road)
54kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) (Silver, at least)
57kg Dervla Duffy (Mulhuddart)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Marys) (Silver, at least)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus) (Bronze)
75kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgan’s)

Team Manager/High-Performance Director: Bernard Dunne
Coaches: Dmitry Dimitruc and Jimmy Payne
Physio: Maureen Harte
R&J: Jim Murrin

gym trition

frayne carpentry

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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