Kellie Harrington and Michaela Walsh both had to settle for bronze at the European Women’s Elite Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria on Monday.
Dublin lightweight Harrington was beaten on a 4-1 split decision in the semi-finals of the tournament by Finland’s Rio 2016 bronze medallist Mira Potkonen, conqueror of Katie Taylor at the Games.
Neither woman dominated a tight but open bout. Harrington, switching from southpaw to orthodox and back, found the target with crisp jabs in all three rounds, Potkonen responding with solid combinations.
Harrington impressed with an excellent left straight right down the middle in the third, but Potkonen again replied with combinations approaching the ten-second clapper for the end of the round and the fight, a repeat of the 2017 EU final which the Finn won.
Belfast featherweight Walsh later came out the wrong side of a contentious 3-2 split decision against Russian Daria Abramova.
Abramova beat Potkonen in the 2016 European lightweight final but has since dropped down to feather.
Our journey in these championships has come to an end with both our athletes bowing out today but no better place to learn & prep for Tokyo 2020 than in the business end of a European championships. 3 athletes, 3 qualified for European Games and 2 medals #TeamIreland 🇮🇪👊
— Bernard Dunne (@Bernard_Dunne) June 11, 2018
