There was triple disappointment for Irish boxers at the European Union Championships in Cetniewo Poland last night after Jamie Conlon, John Joe Joyce and Willie McLoughlin all bowed out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage.
Conlon was beaten 21-15 by Asloun Redouane of France in a keenly-contested flyweight last eight clash and Donegal welterweight McLoughlin lost out to Polish Mariusz Coperski despite an impressive display at the Cetniewo Olympic Centre.
Joyce, of the St Michael's Athy club, who has qualified for the 2008 Olympics, suffered a 23-7 reversal to Hungarian light-welterweight Gyula Kate who has also qualified for Beijing.
Earlier, Irish 2008 Olympian John Joe Nevin progressed to the semi-final following an 17-8 quarter final win over Danish bantamweight Dennis Ceylan.
The win sees the 18-year-old, from the Cavan Boxing Club, who is now guaranteed at least bronze, advance to meet Spain's Rafael Puyol in Thursday's 54kg semi-final.
Irish captain Ken Egan and Paddy Barnes both received byes, with Barnes going straight into the 48kg final and Egan progressing to the semi-final.
Ireland's five Olympians, Egan, Nevin, Barnes, John Joe Joyce and Darren Sutherland are competing in Poland this week in their final tournament before the Olympic Games in Beijing.
