Irish juniors win four boxing medals

Irish boxers claimed one silver and three bronze medals at the Junior Multi Nations in Baku Azerbaijan.

Joe Ward, Christopher Joyce,Gary Byrne and Charles Gallagher all finished in podium positions, with Ryston ace Ward reaching the light welterweight final where he was beaten by Rakhimov Ulubek from Uzbekistan.

Kieran Forde, Eoghan Wright, Chris Blaney, and Chris Mullaly were also competing in Baku, but all four bowed out of the tournament before the medal stages, Blaney performing magnificently in his quarter final with Mustavyed Delgl from Azerbaijan only to be edged out by one point.

Commentating on the tournament, Irish coach Jim Moore said that they were delighted with the four medals, but admitted that they were disappointed not to have taken home at least one gold from a tournament featuring eleven nations.

He said: "The lads performed magnificently to win three medals and when you consider the quality of opposition they were up against they can be proud of their achievements.

"We have entered this tournament for the last three years and every time we have taken home medals, but so far we have failed to win a gold.However, we are getting closer each time and I would be confident that we will get there next time out."

Meanwhile, the Irish Youth squad are in the Ukraine for a training camp and tournament.

Jimmy Payne, from the St Paul's club in Waterford, and Igor Khmil will be putting the Irish squad through their paces.

Khmil, a four times Ukrainian featherweight and lightweight senior champion, is head coach with the Smithfield club in Dublin.