Nineteen-year wait ends in Moscow

Ireland will be taking home one gold, one silver and three bronze medals from the 2010 European Senior Championships at the Ice Palace in Moscow.

Paddy Barnes claimed gold earlier this afternoon following a magnificent 4-1 victory over Elvin Mamishzade of Azerbaijan in the light-flyweight class.

But middleweight Darren O'Neill had to settle for silver following a 16-7 reversal to Arten Chebotarev of Russia.

Barnes, from Holy Family club in Belfast, a bronze medal winner at the 2008 Olympics, was 1-0 up at the end of the first round, 3-1 ahead at the end of the second and sealed the victory with a left midway through the third and final frame.

That win bridged a 19-year gap since Dublin featherweight Paul Griffin won Ireland's last gold at this level in Gothenburg in 1991.

Kilkenny southpaw O'Neill, who teaches 6th class at the Holy Trinity Primary School in Donaghmede, Dublin, produced a brave and gusty performances in a hard hitting 75Kg duel in front of Chebotarev's supporters at the Ice Palace.

The Russian was 2-1 ahead at the end of the first and carried a 8-4 lead into the third despite being on the receiving end of some heavy shots from the Paulstown club-man.

Today's gold and silver medal haul - in conjunction with three bronze medal wins for Ken Egan, Eric Donovan and Tyrone McCullagh - ensured that Ireland finished in second spot in the medals table at the 42 nation tournament, an achievement which Dominic O'Rourke, the President of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, described as magnificent.

"The squad went into the heart of Russia and are coming home with five medals. It is a magnificent achievement by any standard. Every member of this Irish squad can be very, very proud of their achievements in Moscow."

Irish head-coach Billy Walsh, who was Irish team captain when Paul Griffin won gold in Gothenburg almost two decades ago, said the 2010 squad had done Ireland proud.

"The lads have been brilliant, not just at the tournament but in the training camps leading up to Moscow. The can be very proud of what they have achieved this week. They were up against some of the best in the world and they performed with distinction."

Irish team manager Des Donnelly added that he believes that things will only get better.

"It's a milestone in Irish boxing again, another one. We're going home with one gold, a silver and three bronze medals from a major Championships. It's terrific, absolutely terrific We came here with nine boxers, not a full squad - looking forward to the future now, we can only improve from here on."

Billy Walsh, Zuar Antia and Jimmy Halpin were working Ireland's corner at the Ice Palace.

The Irish squad are due to arrive home via Dublin Airport at 9.20pm tomorrow.

Ireland recorded 20 wins from 28 bouts in Moscow.