Euro U22 victories for Owens and Rafferty
There were Mixed fortunes for Team Ireland on the second day of the European U22 Championships in Budva, Montenegro.
Clepson dos Santos, Holy Trinity BC faced Semih Gumus of Turkey in Bout 8 in Ring A’s Afternoon Session today. Ireland’s 51kg representative put in a battling performance, but the 5-0 decision went to his opponent. Judges scored the bout 29:28, 30:27, 30:27, 29:28, 30:27.
Rhys Owens of Erne BC fared better against Spain’s Manuel Victor Vargas Catalino in Bout 9. The lightweight showed his class in a tough bout, coming away with a 4-1 decision. Judges scored the bout 29:28; 29:28; 30:27; 28:29; 29:28. In the subsequent contest, 75kg Gavin Rafferty, Dublin Docklands, was in dominant and decisive form against Hungary’s Soma Meester – recording a UD win, 27:30; 28:29; 27:30; 27:30; 28:29.
Thirty-four teams with 299 boxers (202 men and 97 women) are in Budva. The participating teams are Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, IBA-Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey and IBA-Neutral
The host city, Budva, has a special resonance for Team Ireland – it was the location of the 2022 Women’s European Championship, where the team came home with 3 gold, a silver and 2 bronze medals, topping the table in the process.
Team Ireland had a very successful campaign at the 2022 European U22 Championships in Porec, Croatia, in March of that year, returning with 3 gold medals, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals. The golds were claimed by heavyweight and now Paris 2024 Olympian, Jack Marley, Lisa O’Rourke who would claim a World gold just 2 months later, and 54kg Niamh Fay.
Team Ireland
48kg Nicole Buckley, St Carthages BC
50kg Chantelle Robinson, Saviours Crystal BC
57kg Robin Kelly, Ballynacargy BC
70kg Evelyn Igharo, Clann Naofa BC
75kg Bethany Doocey, Castlebar BC
81kg Dearbhla Tinnelly, Clann Naofa BC
48kg Padraig Downey, St. John Bosco BC, Antrim
51kg Clepson dos Santos, Holy Trinity BC
57kg Donagh Keary, Rathfriland BC
60kg Rhys Owens, Erne BC
63.5kg James “Shamie” McDonagh, St Paul’s Waterford
67kg Gareth Dowling, Dublin Docklands
75kg Gavin Rafferty, Dublin Docklands
80kg James Whelan, Dublin Docklands
86kg Kian Hedderman, O.L.O.L BC
Support Staff:
Team Manager, Sean Crowley
Coach: Jay Delaney
Coach: Lynne McEnery
Coach: Liam Cunningham
Coach: Aoife Hennigan
R&J: Ste
