Waterford’s Michael Reilly will face a Bulgarian opponent in the round-of-16 in the 55kg division at the European Under-19 Boxing Championships.

The St. Paul’s man is up against Yanko Metodiev Illiev of Bulgaria and should he come through that fight – he will then box for a medal.

The draw has taken place in Ostrava for the 2025 European Under-19 Championships – 105 female and 189 male boxers from 33 nations are competing.

The participating nations are: Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine.

The tournament, the first ever European U-19 benchmark competition, will take place at the Černá Louka Arena in Ostrava, in the Czech Republic/Czechia from September 30th to October 9th. Preliminaries and quarter finals will be boxed September 30th to October 5th. Monday, October 6th will be a rest day, and all semi-finals will be boxed across the 7th and 8th. Finals will take place from 3pm on Sunday, October 9th. All afternoon sessions will begin at 1pm, Irish time, and all evening sessions will get underway at 5pm.

Team Ireland’s preparations have included a 6 week bloc of squad training, and a multi-day sparring camp with the England Boxing U-19 squad at the GB Olympic Training Centre in Sheffield.

48kg Chloe Cox, of Setanta BC, Co. Kildare has a bye opens her account at quarter final stage against Azerbaijan’s Naisrli Banuchichak on October 4th. 50kg Kurt Kinsella of Monkstown BC Dublin also takes on Azerbaijani opposition in his opening contest. He begins at Last 16 stage in a division of 15 boxers, contesting against Bilalhabasi Nazarov on October 1st.

51kg Kayleigh Byrne of Gorey BC, Co. Wexford is first in action on October 1st in a Last 16 bout against Turkey’s Emine Kilinc.

57kg Grace Conway, of Tredagh BC, Co. Louth is in Last 16 action against Italy’s Martina di Felice on October 1st.

60kg Sean McCusker of Dealgan BC, Co. Louth opens his campaign on Tuesday, against England – likewise 65kg John Donoghue of Olympic BC, Co. Westmeath against Albania. 70kg Katelyn Butler of St. Colman’s BC Co. Cork begins her tournament at quarter finals level, against Ukraine’s Anastasiia Taran on October 4th.

Team Co-Captain 70kg Patrick Kelly of St. Abban’s/Kilmyshall BC Co. Wexford is in action on the opening day of the tournament on Tuesday against Romania – also in action tomorrow is 75kg Jason Whelan of Dublin Docklands BC. 75kg Nessa Tabachuk of Celtic Eagles BC, Co. Galway has a bye to the semi finals and will come home with at least a bronze medal. She first be in action on October 8th, taking on the winner of the meeting between Italy and Poland.

85kg Chulainn McDonnell of Whitechurch BC, Dublin is in Last 16 action on October 3rd against Greece’s Ioannis Poumpouridis – while 90kg Shay O’Dowd of Swords BC Dublin is in action in the Last 16 on the same day against Buglaria’s Genadiev Roselin Bachevski.

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