Leonard and Sweeney exit European Youth and Junior Championships
Irish Juniors Kelsey Leonard and Caitlin Sweeney bowed out of the European Women’s Youth and Junior Championships at the last-eight and last-16 stage to England’s Melissa Hall and Ebonie Jones today.
Leonard and Hall went all the way down to the final bell in the 48kg class before the judges leaned in favour of the English light-fly.
But Leonard can be very proud of her performance. The composed Curragh BC prospect showcased some excellent counter-punching skills throughout the three rounds and went on the front foot in the final stanza.
Sweeney produced a brave display against the constant aggression of Jones, a bronze medallist at the 2013 World Junior Championships.
The Portsmouth orthodox poured forward at every opportunity. Sweeney countered well, in the first round in particular, but Jones kept piling on the pressure in the second and third rounds, Sweeney taking a standing count in the third frame following a toe-to-toe exchange.
Irish Youth Kristina O’Hara, Siabh Greene and Niamh Folan will be in action tomorrow in Assisi. Boxing begins at 2pm and 5pm (Irish time).
European Women’ s Youth and Junior Championships Assisi, Italy
June 20th
Junior
Q/Final
48kg Kelsey Leonard (Ireland) lost to Melissa Hall (England) 0-3
Last 16
50kg Caitlin Sweeney (Ireland) lost to Ebonie Jones (England) 0-3
June 22nd
Q/Finals
48kg Lauren Blaney (Ireland) v Beatrix Kalmav (Hungary)
54kg Shanee Flynn (Carnadonagh) v Merve Turkmen (Turkey)
57kg Orla Garvey (Dealgan) v Vera Kopeikina (Russia) or Annamaria Solymosi (Hungary)
60kg Shannon Reilly (Bray) v Filip Madalina (Romania)
63kg Natasha O’Reilly (Ireland) v Mellissa Freitag (Germany)
70kg Aoife Burke (Ireland) v Gitta Cseri (Hungary)
Youth
June 21st
Last 16
51kg Kristina O’Hara (Ireland) v Istik Nerimay (Turkey)
54kg Siabh Greene (Ireland) v Malys Gangloff (France)
75kg Niamh Folan (Ireland) v Elisaveta Saiushkina (Ukraine)
June 23rd
Q/Finals
48kg Lauren Hogan (Ireland) v Elit Belismen (Turkey)
57kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) v Annunziata Esposito (Italy)
60kg Cheyanne O’Neill (Ireland) v Iryna Yaskova (Ukraine)
64kg Ciara Sheedy (Ireland) v Marryeva Jabrailova (Azerbaijan)
Irish squad
Youths
48kg Lauren Hogan cpt (St Brigid’s Edenderry)
51kg Kristina O’Hara (St George’s)
54kg Siabh Greene (Ballinacarrow)
57kg Amy Boardhurst (Dealgan)
60kg Cheyanne O’Neill (Athlone)
64kg Ciara Sheedy (Aglish)
75kg Niamh Folan (Connemara)
Juniors
46kg Shauna Blaney (Navan)
48kg Kelsey Leonard (Curragh)
50kg Caitlin Sweeney (St Brigid’s Kildare)
52kg Natasha Logan (Ryston)
54kg Shaneen Flynn (Crumlin)
57kg Orla Garvey (Dealgan)
60kg Shannon Reilly (Bray)
63kg Natasha O’Reilly St Brigid’s (Kildare)
70kg Aoife Burke (St Mary’s)
Team Manager Maura Campbell
Coaches: John McCormack, Noreen Quinn, Antoinette Fay, Liam Brereton
