Wexford’s Kayleigh Byrne through to quarter-finals of European Boxing Championships

If there’s one young sportsperson from Wexford that you should be following, it’s Kayleigh Byrne…

Byrne, who fights out of Gorey Boxing Club, is the current Team Ireland co-captain for the U-19 European Boxing Championships.

On Wednesday evening, Byrne had her first bout of the competition in the Czech Republic. She fought Turkey’s Emine Kilinc in the 51kg category of the last 16 of the competition.

Despite her Turkish opponent being a previous European silver-medalist, Byrne – who is just 17 years of age – stormed through the fight and a quarter-final now awaits.

Speaking after the win, her boxing club shared their delight:

“Kayleigh got over the line in a very close fight. It was never going to be easy boxing last year’s European silver medalist giving away age and experience but she ground it out and there is plenty more to come. She now boxes in the quarters over the weekend against a home boxer from Czech Republic. We are absolutely delighted with the win and super proud of our lil pocket rocket. Get in there Kayls well done champ.”

Byrne will take a home boxer from Czech boxer in the quarter-final.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for Wexford’s Patrick Kelly who lost out to Romanian boxer Daniel Adrian Grigorie in the last 32 of the competition.