European Silver medal for Mullingar’s world boxing champ
Mullingar boxer John Donoghue has just won a European Silver Medal in Sarajevo after producing an impressive display to overcome a capable Serbian opponent, whom he stopped in the second round.
It follow's Thursday's great win over England’s William Loveridge.
The talented Mullingar pugilist had to call on all his skills as he showed just why people are so excited about his prospects with a brilliant medal-clinching final round in Thursday’s bout. Donoghue, a world champion only last year, found himself in a frustrating European Junior quarter-final against a gritty English opponent, but he produced the goods when it mattered to secure another international medal.
Donoghue's fellow Olympic Boxing Club member Eddie Corcoran (52kg) will also fight for a silver medal after he overcame opponents from England and Greece. A third Mullingar boxer, Jason Donoghue, enjoyed victory over a Georgian opponent before losing out to a Russian fighter.
Eddie Corcoran meets a Russian boxer and while a tough battle await, Johnny Joyce, head coach at the Olympic Boxing Club, feels the Mullingar boxer has a great chance.
"This is an outstanding achievement by the two fighters and we are so proud of all three boxers who are on the this talented Irish team. John was up against an outstanding boxers today, and it will be same for Eddie later, are but that is the level they are competing at and it's wonderful to see such talent coming from the club here in Mullingar," he said.
Indeed, John Donoghue had to show all his prowess to progress at the championships. The young star found a way to take a tentative first round against Loveridge, but lost an extremely sloppy second, meaning the bout would be decided in the last. The world junior Gold medallist made certain of victory as he embraced the added pressure and dominated the final session to step onto the podium and win 66kg bronze at least.
The victory was Ireland’s second of the day and increased the medal tally at the tournament to five for the team.
The first half of the round was very cagey, even scrappy as the orthodox and southpaw styles clashed. Finding it hard to find a home for this backhand upstairs, Donoghue began to look to the body and looped in numerous long shots just above the belt line, shots that seemed to win him the round, 4-1.
It was back to fencing at the start of the second as the stances continued to play a role. The Olympic Boxing Club fighter tried to force the action and pushed forward but that led to things getting very scrappy. There were clashes of heads, stumbles to the floor, and the Irish fighter’s headgear came off on one occasion.
Loveridge eventually won the hard-to-score round, 3-2, meaning it was all up for grabs in the last.
The World Junior Champion finally got his jab going in the third and it provided him with a platform from where he showed why he is deemed one of Ireland’s best boxing prospects. Producing when it mattered most, he found a rhythm under pressure to take the round, the win and a medal. Noting how much he was challenged he raised his opponents hand post the win.
Corcoran, meanwhile, showed he is a very capable boxer by overcoming his English opponent 5-0 in the first bout and then emerging with a 5-0 victory over a Greek competitor.
Four more Ireland fighters will fight for medals over on men’s quarter-final day: Michael O’Reilly, Eddie Corcoran, Edward Harty and John Mongans all contest for hardware later in the day.
Irish team
46kg Abby Molloy, Sacred Heart, Dublin
48kg Isabel Nolan, Santry
50kg Paige Nickles, Banbridge
52kg Mary Ann Furlong, Na Fianna
54kg Molly Doyle, Templemore
57kg Kayleigh Byrne, Gorey
60kg Sarah McTiernan, Drumsna
63kg Kaysie Joyce, Clonmel
66kg Cassie Henderson, Phoenix
70kg Chloe Poleon, Dunboyne
75kg Carly Norris, Santry
80kg Alanna Kenny, Clonmel
46kg Oliver Plachta, St Francis
48kg Michael O’Reilly, St Paul’s, Waterford
50kg Kalib Walsh, Wexford
52kg Eddie Corcoran, Olympic L
54kg Jason Donoghue, Olympic L
57kg Joseph Mihai, Crumlin
60kg Desmond Sweeney, Olympic C
63kg Edward Harty, Portlaoise
66kg John Donoghue, Olympic L
70kg Cathal Myers, Sligo City
75kg William Heaphy, Golden Gloves M
80kg John Mongans, Rathkeale
81+kg Johnny McGinley, Gateway
Team Manager: Peter O’Donnell
Team Manager: Karen Robins
Coach: Brian Barry
Coach: Paul Simpson
Coach: Alan Donnellan
R&J: Barry Tucker.