AmateurHeadline News

Ireland’s mind-boggling medal record under Billy Walsh

Fans were deeply saddened yesterday with the confirmation that Billy Walsh will be departing his role as the Head Coach of Ireland’s High Performance Unit.

Many have argued that this will adversely effect Ireland’s performance at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Whether this is true or not, and whether a suitable replacement for Walsh can be found, remains to be seen.

What is certain though, is that Walsh has overseen the greatest period in the history of Irish amateur boxing.

From humble beginnings in 2003, and a relatively sparse first few years (medal-wise), Ireland have roared to the forefront of World amateur boxing in the last eight years. Initially criticised by some as a fruitless venture, the HPU has become one of the biggest success stories in Irish sport.

Below is the full list of medals achieved by Irish male boxers under the reign of Walsh

2003 EU Championships Strasbourg (5)
2 Silver
Paul McCloskey (Light Welterweight)
Kenny Egan (Light Heavyweight)

3 Bronze
Brian Gillen (Bantamweight)
Andy Murray (Lightweight)
Alan Reynolds (Heavyweight)

2003 World Championships Bangkok
No Medals

2004 EU Championships Madrid (1)
1 Silver
Andy Lee (Middleweight)

2004 European Championships Pula (1)
1 Bronze
Andy Lee (Middleweight)

2004 Olympics Athens
No Medals

2005 EU Championships Cagliari (1)
1 Gold
Kenny Egan (Light Heavyweight)

2005 World Championships Mianyang
No Medals

2006 EU Championships Pécs (1)
1 Bronze Kenny Egan (Light Heavyweight)

2006 European Championships Plodiv (1)
1 Bronze
Kenny Egan (Light Heavyweight)

2007 EU Championships Dublin (5)
3 Gold
Roy Sheehan (Welterweight)
Darren Sutherland (Middleweight)
Kenny Egan (Light Heavyweight)

2 Silver
Carl Frampton (Featherweight)
Cathal McMonagle (Super Heavyweight)

2007 World Championships Chicago
No Medals

2008 Olympics Beijing (3)
1 Silver
Kenny Egan (Light Heavyweight)

2 Bronze
Paddy Barnes (Light Flyweight)
Darren Sutherland (Middleweight)

2008 EU Championships Cetniewo (6)
4 Gold
Kenny Egan (Light Heavyweight)
John Joe Nevin (Bantamweight)
David Oliver Joyce (Featherweight)
Darren Sutherland (Middleweight)

2 Silver
Paddy Barnes (Light Flyweight)
Con Sheehan (Heavyweight)

2008 European Championships Liverpool (3)
3 Bronze
Ross Hickey (Lightweight)
John Joe Joyce (Light Welterweight)
Eamonn O’Kane (Middleweight)

2009 EU Championships Odense (9)

3 Gold
David Oliver Joyce (Featherweight)
Darren O’Neill (Middleweight)
Con Sheehan (Heavyweight)

3 Silver
Declan Geraghty (Flyweight)
John Joe Nevin (Bantamweight)
Willie McLaughlin (Welterweight)

3 Bronze
Eric Donovan (Lightweight)
Phil Sutcliffe Jr. (Light Welterweight)
Kenny Egan (Light Heavyweight)

2009 World Championships Milan (1)
1 Bronze
John Joe Nevin (Bantamweight)

2010 European Championships Moscow (5)
1 Gold
Paddy Barnes (Light Flyweight)

1 Silver
Darren O’Neill (Middleweight)

3 Bronze
Tyrone McCullough (Featherweight)
Eric Donovan (Lightweight)
Kenny Egan (Light Heavyweight)

2011 European Championships Ankara (2)
2 Gold
Ray Moylette (Light Welterweight)
Joe Ward (Light Heavyweight)

2011 World Championships Baku (1)
1 Bronze
John Joe Nevin (Bantamweight)

2012 Olympics London (3)
1 Silver
John Joe Nevin (Bantamweight)

2 Bronze
Paddy Barnes (Light Flyweight)
Mick Conlan (Flyweight)

2013 European Championships Minsk (4)
2 Gold
John Joe Nevin (Bantamweight)
Jason Quigley (Middleweight)

2 Silver
Paddy Barnes (Light Flyweight)
Mick Conlan (Flyweight)

2013 World Championships Astana (2)
1 Silver
Jason Quigley (Middleweight)

1 Bronze
Joe Ward (Light Heavyweight)

2014 EU Championships Sofia (4)
1 Gold
David Oliver Joyce (Lightweight)

2 Silver
Darren O’Neill (Heavyweight)
Michael O’Reilly (Middleweight)

1 Bronze
Hugh Myers (Light Flyweight)

2015 European Games Baku (4)
1 Gold
Michael O’Reilly (Middleweight)

1 Silver
Brendan Irvine (Light Flyweight)

1 Bronze
Sean McComb (Lightweight)

2015 European Championships Samokov (3)
2 Gold
Michael Conlan (Bantamweight)
Joe Ward (Light Heavyweight)

1 Bronze
Dean Walsh (Light Welterweight)

2015 World Championships Doha (3)
1 Gold
Michael Conlan (Bantamweight)

1 Silver
Joe Ward (Light Heavyweight)

1 Bronze
Michael O’Reilly (Middleweight)

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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