Ireland are guaranteed nine bronze medals six wins from as many bouts at the European Boxing Championships in Odense, Denmark, today.
With three boxers – Ken Egan, John Joe Nevin and heavyweight Con Sheahan - already in the semi-finals, six went in to action today and each one emerged victorious.
Declan Geraghty (51kg), Eric Donovan (60kg) and Willie McLaughlin (69kg) secured their medals this afternoon with convincing wins.
Geraghty beat France’s Nordine Ait Ihay 12-0, while Donovan was nearly as ruthless in his 12-1 defeat of Husnu Kocabas of Holland and McLaughlin beat Slovakian beat Ladislav Takecs 13-4.
In the evening, David Oliver Joyce (57kg) had a tougher time of it against England’s Ian Weaver but won out 9-6.
Philip Sutcliffe (64kg) beat Poland’s Marcin Legowski 14-4 and Darren O’Neill (75kg) beat Eneste Glodi of Norway 13-2.
Egan continues his quest for a third European gold in a row when he faces a familiar foe in Hungary’s light-heavyweight Imre Szello tomorrow.
The pair met before in 2007 quarter-final at the National Stadium, when Egan won 17-7.
2009 European Union Championships Results
Wednesday June 17th (Quarter Finals)
51Kg:Declan Geraghty (Ireland) beat Nordine Ait Ihay (France) 12-0
57Kg:David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) beat Ian Weaver (England) 9-6
60Kg:Eric Donovan (Ireland) beat Husnu Kocabas (Holland) 12-1
64Kg:Philip Sutcliffe (Ireland) beat Marcin Legowski (Poland) 14-4
69Kg:Willie McLaughlin (Ireland) beat Ladislav Takecs (Slovakia) 13-4
75Kg:Darren O'Neill (Ireland) beat Eneste Glodi (Norway) 13-2