EMPHATIC quarter-final victories for Olympic bronze medallist Paddy Barnes and Athy lightweight Eric Donovan mean Ireland is assured of five bronze medals, with the opportunity to cash them in for silver, at least, in tomorrow’s semi-finals at the European Senior Boxing Championships in Moscow.

IRELAND’S boxing team at the European senior championships in Moscow have already secured three bronze medals – at least – after the first quarter-final session in which Olympic silver medallist, Kenneth Egan, middleweight Darren O’Neill and Donegal debutant, Tyrone McCullough, all recorded big wins.

Ireland hit the ground running in Moscow today, getting their European Senior Championships campaign off to a flying start with five wins out of five at the Ice Palace.