European Boxing, World Championship Athletics and Cycling  

Boxers Push Towards European Medals

Ireland’s boxers continue their European Elite Championships campaign in Sofia, Bulgaria, with the competition running from 17 to 25 September. Jon McConnell has already secured Ireland’s first medal of the championships, while several of his teammates are now one victory away from joining him on the podium. 

Daina Moorehouse was the first Irish boxer to book a quarter-final place, overcoming Bulgaria’s Zlatislava Chukanova by a 3-2 split decision in the women’s 51kg division on Saturday. She will face Spain’s Laura Fuentes Fernandez in Tuesday’s quarter-final, with a European medal at stake. 

Lisa O’Rourke also advanced to the last eight following a dominant unanimous decision victory over Greece’s Vasiliki Stavridou in the women’s 80kg division. O’Rourke won every round on all five judges’ cards and forced two standing counts in the final round. She will meet Great Britain’s Emily Asquith in Tuesday evening’s quarter-final. 

Ireland’s strong progress continued on Sunday as Jack Marley and Evelyn Igharo secured quarter-final places. Marley defeated Aryan Panah Saed in the men’s 90kg round of 16, while Igharo produced a commanding 4-1 victory over Aryna Danilchyk in the women’s 70kg competition. Aoife O’Rourke will begin her campaign at the quarter-final stage on Tuesday. 

On Monday, Jude Gallagher advanced to the men’s 60kg quarter-finals after defeating France’s Lounes Hamraoui by third-round stoppage. Having trailed after the opening round, Gallagher adjusted his tactics, brought the fight to his opponent and forced standing counts before finishing strongly in the third. He will face Spain’s Ewart Andrés Marín Hernández in Wednesday’s quarter-final, with a medal on the line. 

Michaela Walsh also moved to within one victory of the podium after producing a unanimous decision win over Montenegro’s Bojana Gojkovic in the women’s 57kg division. Walsh won all three rounds on each judge’s card and will meet Bulgaria’s Stanimira Petrova in Wednesday’s quarter-final. 

McConnell then secured Ireland’s first medal of the championships with a 3-2 victory over Italy’s Gabriele Guidi Rontani in the men’s 70kg quarter-final. The result guarantees McConnell at least a bronze medal and a place in Wednesday’s semi-final, where he will face Azerbaijan’s Nabi Isgandarov. 

There was disappointment for Kellie McLoughlin, who suffered a 4-1 split-decision defeat to France’s Sthélyne Grosy in the women’s 60kg round of 16. McLoughlin had been called into the Irish team as a late replacement for the injured Kellie Harrington. Gavin Rafferty also exited the championships in the men’s 75kg competition. 

Reflecting on his stoppage victory, Gallagher said: 

“I tried to box him in the first round. He was a counter-puncher, southpaw, and just edged me in the first round when I was a bit slow. I had to change the tactics in the second round and bring the fight to him, hurt him with a body shot, forced a count in the second and finished him in the third, so I’m delighted.” 

After securing Ireland’s first medal of the championships, McConnell said: 

“I’m over the moon. It was a close fight, a tough fight. He just wouldn’t stop, but I kept my composure in the last round and finished strong. Into the semi-final now, let’s go.” 

Marley offered a colourful assessment of his opening victory: 

“It was a bit like being in a mosh pit for three rounds, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Happy my campaign is underway.” 

Upcoming Irish Bouts 

Tuesday, 22 September 

• Daina Moorehouse faces Laura Fuentes Fernandez in the women’s 51kg quarter-final. 

• Lisa O’Rourke meets Emily Asquith in the women’s 80kg quarter-final. 

• Jack Marley, Evelyn Igharo and Aoife O’Rourke are also due to contest quarter-finals. 

Wednesday, 23 September 

• Jude Gallagher faces Ewart Andrés Marín Hernández in the men’s 60kg quarter-final. 

• Michaela Walsh meets Stanimira Petrova in the women’s 57kg quarter-final. 

• Jon McConnell faces Nabi Isgandarov in the men’s 70kg semi-final. 

Watch live: The European Elite Boxing Championships are available live and on demand through Eurovision Sport. Ring A sessions featuring Irish boxers are also being streamed on the RTÉ Player. 

Irish Athletes Deliver Strong Results in London and Copenhagen 

Darragh McElhinney set a new Irish 5km record at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen on Saturday, 19 September, finishing 16th in 13:22. The performance improved the previous national record, set by Alistair Cragg in 2012, by four seconds. Brian Fay finished 38th in 13:48. 

Cathal Doyle was the leading Irish finisher in the men’s mile, placing 17th in 3:58.40, while Andrew Coscoran finished 40th in a personal best of 4:07.95. In the women’s mile, Sarah Healy placed 13th in a personal best of 4:32.98, with Laura Nicholson 21st in a personal best of 4:36.64. 

In the half marathon on Sunday, 20 September, Peter Lynch led the Irish challenge, finishing 44th in 1:02:10. Hiko Tonosa placed 71st in 1:03:27. 

At the invitation-only Athlos meeting in London on Friday, 18 September, Rhasidat Adeleke finished fourth in the women’s 200m in 22.64, behind an American clean sweep led by Gabby Thomas. Sophie O’Sullivan placed fifth in the women’s 800m in 2:00.53, with Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson taking victory. 

Rafferty Secures Top-10 Finish at Road World Championships 

Ryan Mullen finished 36th in the elite men’s individual time trial as Ireland began its UCI Road World Championships campaign in Montreal on Sunday, 20 September. The Irish national time trial champion completed the 39.2km course in 48:41.40. 

Ireland’s campaign continued on Monday in the men’s under-23 individual time trial, where Adam Rafferty delivered a top-10 finish. Rafferty placed 10th over the 31.3km course, finishing 56 seconds behind winner Ryan Gal of the Netherlands. 

Seth Dunwoody finished 56th after crashing early in the race, losing time and requiring a bike change. Both riders will return for Friday’s under-23 road race, where they will be joined by David Gaffney and Liam O’Brien. 

Ireland’s remaining schedule 

• Tuesday, 22 September: Freddie Winkley and Rían McCrystal, junior men’s individual time trial. Emer Heverin, junior women’s individual time trial. 

• Thursday, 24 September: Freddie Winkley, Rían McCrystal and Hugh Óg Mulhearne, junior men’s road race. 

• Friday, 25 September: David Gaffney, Adam Rafferty, Seth Dunwoody and Liam O’Brien, under-23 men’s road race. Emer Heverin, junior women’s road race. 

• Sunday, 27 September: Ben Healy, Darren Rafferty, Jamie Meehan and Ryan Mullen, elite men’s road race. 

Watch live: In Ireland, coverage of the UCI Road World Championships is available through TNT Sports. Selected coverage may also be available on the UCI YouTube channel, subject to geo-blocking.