Further success for Irish boxers

Ryan Lindberg and Tommy McCarthy claimed gold in Albania on Monday night to finish Ireland's Shkodra Memorial Cup campaign on a high note.

Lindberg, who boxes out of the Immaculata club in Belfast, saw off the challenge of Greek bantamweight Kodaxis Vasildos, winning 11-3 over three rounds in Tirana.

And McCarthy, of the Oliver Plunkett club in Belfast, made it an Irish double following his 8-4 victory over Swiss light heavyweight David Rathusger.

But Ross Hickey, a bronze medal winner at the 2008 European Championships in Liverpool, lost out 10-9 to Zllaticanin Monilkljo of Montenegro in the lightweight final.

Reigning European Union champion David Oliver Joyce did not compete in the eight nation tournament because no one entered his weight category.

However, the St Michael's Athy featherweight still collects a gold medal to take Ireland's haul from Tirana to three gold and one silver.

In Sunday's semi-finals, Declan Geraghty lost 7-3 to French 2007 World Championships bronze medalist Oubaali Nordini and Roy Sheahan was beaten 8-3 by Albanian light welterweight Jetmir Kuci.

Meanwhile, Eamon O'Kane has replaced Irish senior middleweight champion Darren O'Neill on the Irish Ahmet Cup squad which departs for Turkey this morning.

The IABA have named World champion Katie Taylor and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Paddy Barnes in a nine strong panel for the tournament which gloves off in Istanbul tonight.

O'Neill picked up a hand injury in sparring and has been replaced by O'Kane, who was originally named in the Irish squad for Albania.

The Irish squad depart for Istanbul this Tuesday morning.

Shkodra Memorial Cup Tirana Albania Results April 11th/13th

Semi Finals 12 April
51Kg: Declan Geraghty (Ireland) lost to Oubaali Nordini (France) 3-7
54Kg: Ryan Lindberg (Ireland) beat Zendaoui Brahin (France) 7-6
69Kg: Roy Sheahan (Ireland) lost to Jetmir Kuci (Albania) 3-8
60Kg: Ross Hickey (Ireland) W/O
81Kg: Tommy McCarthy (Ireland) W/O

Finals 13 April
54Kg: Ryan Lindberg (Ireland) beat Kodaxis Vasildos (Greece) 11-3
60Kg: Ross Hickey (Ireland) lost to Zllaticanin Monilkljo (Montenegro) 9-10
81Kg: Thomas McCarthy (Ireland) beat David Rathusger (Switzerland) 8-4

Team Manager: Joe Hennigan
Coaches: Patsy McAllister & Jim Halpin
Physio: Scott Murphy


Irish Squad Ahmet Cup Istanbul Turkey 14/20 April

48Kg: Paddy Barnes (Holy Family)
54Kg: John Joe Nevin (Cavan)
57Kg: Carl Frampton (Midland)
60Kg: Eric Donovan (St Michael's Athy)
60Kg: Katie Taylor (Bray BC)
64Kg: John Joe Joyce (St Michael's Athy)
69Kg: Willie McLoughlin (Illies GG)
75Kg: Eamon O'Kane (Immaculata)
91Kg: Con Sheehan (Clonmel)