Sport

Disappointment as Ulster duo Brendan Irvine and Kurt Walker bow out of European Championships

Brendan Irvine just came up short against Birmingham teenager Niall Farrell in yesterday's flyweight semi-final at the European Elite Championships. Picture by Hugh Russell
Brendan Irvine just came up short against Birmingham teenager Niall Farrell in yesterday's flyweight semi-final at the European Elite Championships. Picture by Hugh Russell Brendan Irvine just came up short against Birmingham teenager Niall Farrell in yesterday's flyweight semi-final at the European Elite Championships. Picture by Hugh Russell

BRENDAN Irvine and Kurt Walker both had to settle for bronze after exiting the European Elite Championships yesterday, but Joe Ward remains on course to successfully defend the title he won in 2015.

The Mullingar man cruised into today’s light-heavyweight final in Kharkiv with a comprehensive victory over Valentino Manfredonia, Ward showcasing his skills to take a unanimous decision.

After sustaining a leg injury early on, the Italian appeared to be sobbing in his corner at the end of the first round, but gamely completed the fight.

Ward faces Russia’sMuslim Gadzhimagomedov in the decider this afternoon, the 23-year-old’s back-to-back dreams still alive.

Unfortunately he will be the only Irishman in action today after Irvine and Walker both fell at the semi-final stage yesterday.

Rio Olympian Irvine was taking on England’s Niall Farrell in the last four, and the 19-year-old from Birmingham – boxing in his first major international tournament – shaded a close fight.

St Paul’s ace Irvine started strongly, beautifully countering the long left jab of Farrell with eye-catching overhead rights as the teenager struggled to get out of the blocks.

But Farrell found his feet early in the second, upping the tempo and closing the distance to Irvine, landing impressive one-two combinations and getting the better of the exchanges.

The third round was exhibition stuff, with both men landing good shots as the momentum swung back and forth.

Farrell’s cleaner work perhaps appealed to the judges at ringside as his hand was raised, all five favouring the Englishman - one scoring it 30-27, the other four 29-28.

There was disappointment for Walker too as he bowed out against home favourite Mykola Butsenko on a unanimous decision.

Bidding to become the third Irishman in-a-row to land bantamweight gold at the Europeans, following in the footsteps of John Joe Nevin and Michael Conlan, Walker settled well.

The Canal fighter was making Butsenko miss with the left hand time and again while landing clever counters of his own, but the Ukrainian - who lost to Nevin in the 2013 final - showed all his experience as he came on strong in the final minute.

Walker appeared to shade the second as well, controlling the distance and landing some beautiful shots, the best of which was a short right uppercut that rocked back the head of his opponent.

Again Butsenko finished strongly, perhaps catching the judges’ eye with his attacking, aggressive style, and he saved his best for last as he took the fight to Walker at the start of the third.

The 22-year-old’s head snapped back twice during the early exchanges as Butsenko seized the initiative before, in a role reversal from the previous two rounds, Walker stormed forward as the bell neared, landing good shots to head and body.

It wasn’t enough though, with all five judges surprisingly awarding the fight 30-27 to Butsenko, though Walker still has plenty to be pleased about.

Taking home a bronze medal is one thing, but this tournament finally saw Walker prove he can mix it with the best on the European stage, having previously struggled to make an impact when handed a chance.

His last 16 defeat of number two seed Tayfur Aliyev, from Azerbaijan, could prove a landmark day in Walker’s amateur career as he – along with Irvine and fellow Belfast fighter Sean McComb - move on to August’s World Championships in Hamburg.