Olympic medal winners lead strong Ireland squad for Europeans

Ireland’s three men’s Olympic medallists will all be action at the European Elite Championships after being included in a 10-man squad for the tournament in the Belarus capital of Minsk.

John Joe Nevin, Michael Conlan and Paddy Barnes will be joined by 2011 European champions Joe Ward and Ray Moylette. All five are currently ranked in the top 10 in the World by AIBA. Another London Olympian, Adam Nolan from Bray BC, will fight at welterweight.

Current Irish Elite champion Jason Quigley will wear the Irish middleweight vest. The Donegal man will be aiming for a unique treble in June as he has already won European gold at Youth and under-23 level in 2009 and 2012.

Belfast lightweight Sean McComb will carry Ireland’s 60kg hopes, while Tommy McCarthy and Con Sheehan, who between them have won seven Irish Elite belts, line out at heavyweight and super-heavyweight.

The squad leave for the Ukraine on May 16th for their final training camp with the host nation, Azerbaijan and Armenia in Kiev. They travel straight from the Ukrainian capital to Minsk on May 28th.

"We're looking forward to the European Championships," said Irish head coach Billy Walsh.

“We have a very tough training camp ahead of us in Kiev and the squad will be in tip-top shape for Minsk. We’ll be focusing on the best of our performances at the last few European Championships in Minsk and on taking it one fight at a time and on our own performances in each fight and each fight after that.”

Irish squad for 2013 European Championships
49kg (Light-flyweight): Paddy Barnes (Holy Family BC, Belfast)
52kg (Flyweight): Michael Conlan (St John Bosco BC, Belfast)
56kg (Bantamweight): John Joe Nevin (Cavan BC)
60kg (Lightweight): Sean McComb (Holy Trinity BC)
64kg (Light-welterweight): Ray Moylette (St Anne's BC, Mayo)
69kg (Welterweight): Adam Nolan (Bray BC)
75kg (Middleweight): Jason Quigley (Finn Valley BC, Co Donegal)
81kg (Light -heavyweight): Joe Ward (Moate BC)
91kg (Heavyweight): Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett BC, Belfast)
91kg+ (Super-heavyweight): Con Sheehan (Clonmel BC)

Coaches: Billy Walsh, Zuar Antia, Eddie Bolger
Team manager: Joe Hennigan
Strengh & Conditioning: John Cleary
Physio: Conor McCarthy