Ireland wins three gold medals at European Women's Boxing Championships

Team Ireland has earned three gold medals at the European Women's Boxing Championships in Montenegro over the weekend.

Kellie Harrington, Amy Broadhurst and Aoife O'Rourke all took top honours on an amazing day for Irish boxing, while Christina Desmond and Caitlin Fryers picked up silver medals.

The team arrived back in their homeland last night, with deservedly huge cheers at Dublin Airport welcoming them upon their landing.

Lots of smiles at Dublin Airport this evening as Ireland's history-making female boxers returned from a hugely successful Elite European Women’s Boxing Championships. 🥊 🇮🇪 https://t.co/pLfZ2T8pk2

— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) October 23, 2022

Harrington claimed lightweight gold after a 5-0 final win over Lenka Bernardova. The Dublin native ensured a 10-9 lead on all five scorecards after the first round and the second round earned her a 20-18 on all scorecards before a comfortable final round.

Dundalk southpaw Broadhurst powered her way to a gold medal against Ukraine's Mariia Bova in their light-welterweight final.

'GOLD STANDARD'
Ireland's @amybroadhurst12 celebrates winning a gold medal in the Women’s Light Welterweight Final at the Women's European Boxing Championships in Montenegro! 🥇🥊 pic.twitter.com/3rurKZUkfV

— Inpho Photography (@Inphosports) October 22, 2022

The 2022 world and commonwealth champion ended the first round 10-9 ahead on three cards, and 10-8 on two others.

The 25-year-old Louth fighter dominated throughout, adding to her growing reputation as a superstar of the amateur game.

O'Rourke became the third Irish gold medalist after a tough victory over Elzbieta Wojcik of Poland. O'Rourke cruised through the final round to claim a 5-0 win on a stunning day for Irish women’s boxing.

Armenia's unfortunately Ani Hovsepyan ended Christina Desmond’s gold ambitions with a 4-1 win in their light middleweight bout.

The Cork woman brought real energy to the final round, fighting ahead on one scorecard but remained behind on the other four.

Caitlin Fryers won silver after being defeated by 2020 Olympic silver medalist Naz Buse Cakiroglu in the light-flyweight final in Montenegro.

The Turkish fighter won 5-0 on the judges' scorecards after an impressive performance against the less experienced Belfast boxer.

The Belfast fighter again came out aggressive at the start of the second, but the round followed a similar pattern with Cakiroglu picking her moments beautifully.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin congratulated the Irish women's boxing team via Twitter on Saturday, writing:

"Wonderful day for Ireland at the European Championships. Congrats Kellie Harrington, Amy Broadhurst and Aoife O’Rourke on European gold - and Christina Desmond and Caitlin Fryers on your silver. Such depth in Irish women’s boxing. A bright future ahead."

Wonderful day for Ireland at the European Championships.

Congrats Kellie Harrington, Amy Broadhurst and Aoife O’Rourke on European gold - and Christina Desmond and Caitlin Fryers on your silver.

Such depth in Irish women’s boxing. A bright future ahead.

— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) October 22, 2022