Sister act: Aoife and Lisa O’Rourke secure European Championships medals in Sofia
There was sensational sibling success in Sofia, as sisters Aoife and Lisa O’Rourke claimed European Championships medals today.
The Castlerea sisters enjoyed another superb day in the ring, representing their country, team and family with distinction.
Both added to their personal medal tallies, winning through to quarter-finals and ensuring they will return home with bronze at the very least.
Aoife O’Rourke, the reigning world middleweight champion, produced a gutsy display to edge Poland’s Agata Kaczmarska 3-2 in a fiercely contested quarter-final.
The 29-year-old was involved in an all-action battle with the reigning 80+kg world champion, with the contest finely balanced heading into the final round. Two judges had the older of the boxing sisters two rounds ahead, while two had Kaczmarska in front, meaning the fifth judge’s score in the final frame proved decisive.
O’Rourke got the nod to secure a fifth major International tournament medal.
The Olympian will now face Russia’s Saltanat Medenova in Wednesday’s semi-final.
“It was a battle,” Aoife told Boxing Ireland.
“That girl never gave in and I’m just thankful I had that bit of fitness to keep me going through all three rounds.
“I know it’s easy looking in and people saying ‘you’re taller so just keep her out’, but she just kept coming forward.”
Younger sister Lisa O’Rourke completed the family double with a dominant quarter-final victory over England’s Emily Asquith.
The 24-year-old, who claimed World gold in 2022 and silver last year, produced a commanding performance to secure a unanimous decision and her place in the last four of the light-heavyweight division.
“It’s hard come the quarter-finals with the medal on the line,” Lisa said.
“You don’t forget about the medal, but go in like any fight, give it your best and hope that’s enough.”
The Roscommon footballer also revealed how much her sister’s success had inspired her ahead of her own quarter-final.
“I look up to Aoife massively. Normally it’s me going in before her but she threw it back on me today and said ‘I have to put it in place and keep the vibes going’ and thankfully she did. I knew she’d be well able.”
There was disappointment for three other Irish fighters, with Jack Marley, Evelyn Igharo and Daina Moorehouse all exiting at the quarter-final stage.
Marley lost 4-1 to Georgia’s Georgii Kushitashvli, while Igharo was beaten by England’s Chantelle Reid on a unanimous decision in the 70kg division.
Moorehouse also suffered a 4-1 defeat against Spain’s Laura Fuentes Fernandez in their flyweight quarter-final.
The medal double increases Ireland’s tally to three, as the O’Rourkes join Jon McConnell as podium placers.
