Ireland name teams for European U18s and U22s Championships
The Irish teams have been confirmed for the upcoming European U22 and U18 Championships in Romania and Italy respectively.
2018 marks the start of men’s and women’s tournaments being run as one at European level – meaning that, for the first time, there is a tournament for U22 women.
Ireland will send 24 (out of a possible 40) to the two tournaments.
Just nine have been chosen to compete this month at the U22s in Targu Jiu (four men, five women). This is in contrast to the seven sent to the inaugural Euro U22s in 2012 – where Jason Quigley won gold and Hughie Myers took bronze – and the ten announced (nine of whom travelled) for the revived competition last year where no medals were plundered.
It is a quality squad however including the likes of World and European Youth bronze medalist Gabriel Dossen, four-time underage major medalist Amy Broadhurst, and World Junior silver medalist Niamh Earley.
There are also spots for recent Elite champions Shannon Sweeney, Aoife O’Rourke, and Conor Quinn, as well as Shauna Blaney, Jordan Moore, and Kevin Sheehy.
Notable absentees, however, include Elite light flyweight champion Connor Jordan and Limerick light welter Paddy Donovan who is part of the Elite team on tour in Boston at the minute. Also not on the plane are Irish U22 champions Kellie McLoughlin, Patryk Adamus, Kenneth Doyle, Ciara Ginty, Nell Fox, Martin Mongan, and Elite and U22 runner-up Brian Kennedy
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A young U18s team includes the likes of last year’s European Junior gold medalists Callum Walsh and Daina Moorehouse as well as 2016 European Junior gold medalist Edward Donovan. Other big names heading to Roseto
Commonwealth Youth silver medalist Kane Tucker, European Youth silver and bronze medalists Caitlin Fryers and Lauren Kelly, European Junior silver medalists Dean Clancy, Euro Schoolboys silver medalist Brandon McCarthy.
Also making the trip next month will be Jude Gallagher, Alex Higgins, Edward Barrett, Mary Geraghty, Dearbhla Rooney, Aoibhe Ginty, and Evelyn Igharo
There were no places however for recent U18 competition winners Elice Elliott, Sophie Thornton, Alannah Nolan, Tommy Gavin, and Ownie McDonagh
The European Youths are a tournament of major importance following the introduction of qualification for the World Youth Championships this coming August.
The top seven male boxers in each weight will qualify for the championships (the host city for which is yet to be confirmed). The female quarter-finalists at fly, feather, light, and middle, semi-finalists at light-fly, bantam, light-welter, and welter, and the finalists at light-heavy and heavy will all also qualify.
The teams are as follows:
European U/22 Championships
March 24-April 2
48kg Shannon Sweeney (St Anne’s)
51kg Niamh Earley (Ryston)
52kg Conor Quinn (Clonard)
56kg Jordan Moore (Glasnevin)
57kg Shauna Blaney (Navan)
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Olympic)
91kg Kevin Sheehy (St Francis)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea)
Team manager: Paddy Osborne
Head coach: Dmitry Dmitruk
Coaches: Eoin Pluck, Thomas Murray Coach, Valerie Hamilton
R&J: Philip Rooney
European Youth Championships
April 17-26
48kg Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry)
49kg Jude Gallagher (Two Castles)
51kg Caitlyn Fryers (Immaculata)
52kg Dean Clancy (Ballinacarrow)
54kg Mary Geraghty (Baldoyle)
56kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michaels Athy)
57kg Dearbhla Rooney (Sean McDermott)
60kg Aoibhe Ginty (Geesala)
60kg Alex Higgins (Fr Horgan’s)
64kg Callum Walsh (Riverstown)
64kg Evelyn Igharo (Clann Naofa)
69kg Edward Donovan (O.L.O.L.)
75kg Kane Tucker (Holy Family GG)
75kg Lauren Kelly (St Brigids Edenderry)
81kg Edward Barrett (Olympic)
Team Manager: TBC
Coaches: Billy McClean, Michael Carruth, Michael Mongan, Anita Just
R&J: John Casey
