Ireland off to a flying start at European Union Championships

Flyweight Conor Ahern got Irelands European Union Championships campaign off to a flying start with a thrilling 20-19 victory over England's Stewart Langley at the National Stadium in Dublin today.

And St Michael's Athy Team-mate Eric Donovan and John Joe Joyce also emerged victorious with both Irish boxers

stopping their opponents on the 20 point rule.

Langley was actually ahead by one point going into the final ten seconds of and untidy but explosive 51Kg decider.

But Ahern, from the Baldoyle club in Dublin, landed two solid rights to claim the four rounder by a margin of one point. Ahern was ahead 6-3 and 12-10 at the end of rounds one and two.

But Langley-who Ahern has already beaten in Four Nation competition-was ahead 15-14 at the end of the third and appeared poised for victory until Aherns late surge.

Ahern will now meet Bulgaria's Salim Salimov in the quarter finals on Wednesday.

Ahern said: "I have boxed Langley on four occasions in the past and they were always tough tight fights

with very little in them.

"I had a bit of a back injury going into this fight but once the adrenalin kicks in its down to business and I'm delighted

with the victory as I want to win at medal at this tournament.

Meanwhile lightweight Eric Donovan cruised past Osama Hadifi stopping the Dane on the twenty point rule in round three (25-5).

Donovan varied his tactics well in this clash moving from body to head, and the St Michael's Athy ace said that he spotted

a flaw in the Danes defence when he was shadow boxing before the fight.

He said: "I noticed he was very flat footed when he was shadow boxing and I went for a few body shots in the opening round and then just increased my lead. I work a lot on those shots and I'm pleased with my performance."

Donovan will now meet Italian Domenico Valentino in the quarter finals. Valentino, a world bronze medallist, is going for his

fourth gold on the trot at this level.

Donovan added: "I beat Valtentino 9-8 as a junior here at the Stadium a few years back when I was Irish captain and he

was Italian captain. He is a top class boxer and it is going to be a very tight fight and I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Light weltweight John Joe Joyce became the third Irish boxer to book his ticket into the last eight following a very convincing second round 20 point rule win over Rmya Evans.

Joyce was also in command of this brief contest and will now face Hungarian Gyula Kate in the quarter finals.

Irish heavy weight John Sweeney and super Cathal McMonagle will be in the ring tomorrow night. Sweeney meets French puncher John Michael M'Bumba, and McMonagle clashes with Turkeys Kurban Gunerbakan.

Scotlands Darren Traynor staged the comeback of the opening day at the Championships. Traynor

was trailing by nine points at the end of the second against Croatian Ahmeti Mirsad, but stormed back to win 28-27.

The President of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, Dominic O'Rourke, AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu

and Executive Director Mr Ho Kim, Irish Sports Council Chairman Ossie Kilkenny and CEO John Treacy and Olympic Council of Ireland Secretary Dermot Sherlock attended todays tournament.

The Boys and Girls of the Droichead Nua Dancing Scholl in Newbridge Co Kildare performed todays opening ceremony

and received a sustained round of applause following their superb exhibition of traditional Irish dancing.