LEAH GALLEN got back on Irish soil yesterday evening with her second European bronze medal.
The Raphoe ABC welterweight bagged bronze at the European Youth Championships in Bulgaria.
Pictures via Michael Hade, National Stadium Boxing Videos
A bronze medallist at last year’s European Juniors in Russia, Gallen overcame Germany’s Annemarie Schierle and Turkey’s Gulcan Arga to get onto the podium for a second year in a row.
Gallen lost out to Scilla Ambrus from Hungary in Monday’s semi-final.
A big crowd of family, friends and her club mates from Raphoe ABC – including Donegal Boxing Board President Peter O’Donnell and club coaches Gary McCullagh and Gerard Keaveney – were at Dublin Airport to welcome home the five-time Irish champion.
Ireland finished in 8th spot in the medals table and 8th in the rankings table at the 37-nation European Youths in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Niamh Fay (gold), Gallen (bronze), Lisa O’Rourke (bronze) and Daina Moorehouse (bronze) all finished in podium positions in Sofia.
Swords BC woman Fay defeated Croatia’s Nikolina Cacic 4-1 in the bantamweight final.
Irish boxing has now won 40 medals at all levels – Elite, Youth, Junior and Schoolboy/girl – medals – of European competition this year.
