McNaul, Walsh and Harrington in Euro action today
Three Irish boxers fight on the European front today.
Olympic Champion Kellie Harrington, two-time Commonwealth Games medal winner Carly McNaul and European Games gold medal winner Michaela Walsh are all in European Championships action in Montenegro.
McNaul, who won silver at the most recent Commonwealth Games installment and has impressed her way to a #5 world ranking this year, opens her account in bout 3 of today’s afternoon sessions. The Ormeau Road BC fighter goes in against Ana Alexandra Gheorghe of Romania in round 1 of the 52kg class.
Olympian and reigning Commonwealth Games champion, Walsh, who had a 1st round preliminaries bye – gets underway against France’s Amina Zidani, in bout 8 of the afternoon session.
Harrington fights for a second time in the tournament when she trades leather in the evening session.
The St Mary’s BC fighter takes on Ozer Gizem of Turkey 24 hours after she defeated France’s Maiva Hamadouche via unanimous decision.
31 nations and 164 boxers are taking part, in all, from: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales.
Team Ireland Squad
48kg: Shannon Sweeney, St. Anne’s, Mayo
50kg: Caitlin Fryers, Immaculata BC, Belfast
52kg: Carly McNaul, Ormeau Road BC, Belfast
54kg: Niamh Fay, Phoenix of Ballyboughal BC, Dublin
57kg: Michaela Walsh, Emerald BC, Belfast
60kg: Kellie Harrington, St. Mary’s BC, Dublin
63kg: Amy Broadhurst, St. Bronagh’s ABC, Newry
66kg: Kaci Rock, Enniskerry BC, Wicklow
70kg: Christina Desmond, Dungarvan BC/Garda BC
75kg: Aoife O’Rourke, Olympic BC, Galway
Coaches:
Zauri Antia
John Conlan
Dmitrij Dmitruk
Eoin Pluck
Physio
Rob Tuomey.