Willie Donoghue, Michael Gallagher, Ciara Ginty and Christina Desmond made it four wins from four for Ireland at the AIBA World Youth Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Gallagher was the dominant force in his heavyweight encounter with Canada’s Evangeles Frangos, the only surprise being that the Donegal man’s victory was adjudged to be a split decision.
Gallagher took a technical count in the first round of this encounter after he called for some attention for a nose bleed. Donoghue was involved in a high-tempo three-rounder with Domenik Hirsch.
The German flyweight found the target with some neat shots against the current AIBA World Junior champion.
But for every shot he landed, Donoghue was replying with rapid-fire two- and three-punch combinations on his way to a unanimous, 30-27 across the board decision.
Earlier, Ciara Ginty, also a current AIBA World Junior champion, and Christina Desmond, a World Youth silver medallist, both won.
Ginty and Desmond beat Bulgaria’s Nikol Mladenova and Ekaternina Serova, respectively.
Ginty (Geesala BC) showed her class to beat Mladenova on a unanimous decision and Desmond (Macroom BC) forced Serova into standing counts – courtesy of two right hooks - in the first and fourth rounds of the battle of the southpaws.
“Ciara went in as a world junior champion and showed what she is made of against a Bulgarian opponent in Bulgaria. Christina was top class, absolutely brilliant performance,” said Irish team manager Liam Brereton. ”We’re delighted with the performances today.”
Ginty and Desmond will be back in action on Friday. Desmond will be joined by her fellow Cork middleweight Luke Thomas, who will be making his World Youth championships debut against the Ukraine.
Last 32
52kg: Willie Donoghue (Ireland) beat Domenik Hirsch (Germany) 3-0
91kg: Michael Gallagher (Ireland) beat Evangeles Frangos (Canada) 2-1
W60kg: Ciara Ginty (Ireland) beat Nikol Mladenova (Bulgaria) 3-0
W75kg: Christina Desmond (Ireland) beat Ekaternina Serova (Russia) 3-0
