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Donoghue and John Joyce join Cully in European quarters

Willie Donoghue blasted his way into the quarter-finals of the European Youth Championships in Zagreb, Croatia today.

The St Michael’s Athy flyweight, the current AIBA World Junior champion, beat Turkey’s Yanardag Ugurcan on a unanimous decision.

Ugurcan took two standing counts near the end of the first frame this afternoon, the first from a left and the second from a flashing right.

Donoghue took a count early in the second round of a full-blooded 52kg clash, although, given the volume of leather flying, it looked like the Turk should have taken a third count following a furious exchange which culminated in both boxers finding the target with right and left hooks simultaneously.

Meanwhile, European Junior champion John Joyce received a walkover today. The St Michael’s Athy BC ace was slated to meet Scotland’s George this evening in the last 16, but the Scot withdrew injured. It is understood that George suffered an arm injury.

Earlier today, Gary Cully showed his class to book his ticket into the last-eight in the Croatian capital. Cully, the 2013 European Youth champion at flyweight, had way too much ring craft and skill for Croatian light-welter Matej Simec, the St David’s BC southpaw, who was towering over his opponent, repeatedly picking off his shots en route to a convincing win.

But Francis Cleary bowed out today. The Olympic BC stand out took a standing count in the first against the aggressive Albanian bantamweight Rexhildo Zeneli, but the the Galway teen battled his way back into contention in rounds one and two of a high-tempo bout before Zenili got the decision.

Donoghue, Joyce and Donoghue join Darryl Moran and James Cleary in the quarter-finals following today’s wins. All five will be in action tomorrow, one win each away from claiming at least bronze.

European Youth Championships 2014 Zagreb, Croatia

October 18th (Preliminaries)

52kg Willie Donoghue (Ireland) beat Sebastigan Sacrici (Serbia) 3-0

60kg James Cleary (Ireland) beat Asefi Soldimann (Germany) 3-0

71kg Fergus Quinn (Ireland) beat Bence Papi (Hungary) 3-0

October 19th (last 32)

56kg Francis Cleary (Ireland) beat Katin Arsenov (Bulgaria) 2-1

69kg John Joyce (Ireland) beat Ogulcan Ozturk (Turkey) 3-0

81kg Cormac Long (Ireland) lost to Algirdas Daniulus (Lithuania) 0-3

91kg James Hughes (Ireland) beat Alexsander Ceiejewski (Poland) 3-0

October 20th (last 16)

60kg James Cleary (Ireland) beat Marsel Tertejyan (Denmark) 3-0

75kg Fergus Quinn (Ireland) lost to Viktar Dziushkevich (Belarus) 0-3

91kg James Hughes (Ireland) lost to Muhammed Baki Yalcin (Turkey) 0-3

October 21st (last 16)

52kg Willie Donoghue (Ireland) beat Yanardag Ugurcan (Turkey) 3-0

56kg Francis Cleary (Ireland) lost to Rexhildo Zeneli (Albania) 0-3

64kg Gary Cully (Ireland) beat Matej Simec (Croatia) 3-0

69kg John Joyce (Ireland) beat Peter George (Scotland) W/O

October 22nd

Q/Finals

49kg Darryl Moran (Ireland) v Nial Farrell (England) (1pm session – bout 1)

52kg Willie Donoghue (Ireland) v Dan Asenov (Bulgaria) (5pm session – bout 1)

60kg James Cleary (Ireland) v Maxim Krivisov (Russia) (5pm session -bout 3)

64kg Gary Cully (Ireland) v Denys Pesotsky (Ukraine) (1pm session – bout 5

69kg John Joyce (Ireland) v Luka Prtenjaca (Croatia) (5pm session – bout 6)

(Irish times apply)

Irish squad
49kg Darryl Moran (Illies GG)
52kg Willie Donoghue (St Michael’s Athy)
56kg Francis Cleary (Olympic)
60kg James Cleary (Olympics)
64kg Gary Cully (St David’s)
69kg John Joyce (St Michael’s Athy)
75kg Fergus Quinn (Camlough)
81kg Cormac Long (Rathkeale)
91kg James Hughes (Ryston)

Team manager: Sean Canavan
Coaches: Jim O’Neill and Tom Hayes
Physio: Owen Naughton
R&J Dermot McDermot

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