Grace Conway, 57kg, who boxes out of Tredagh Boxing Academy, and Sean McCusker 57kg, of Dealgan, are reigning IABA 2025 Youth Competition champions. Sean is the clubmate of IABA National President, Louth’s Anto Donnelly.
This is the first Youth international to take place since March 2023, when Ireland took on England in a dual-nations following a training camp in Ballina in Mayo.
The last Elite international, when Ireland met Ukraine, took place in Castlerea, Roscommon, in April 2024, also following a training camp.
Ireland last met Wales in a dual-nations in February 2022, in a predominantly Youth programme. That ended in five wins, apiece.
The team have been in training at Dealgan BC, Louth and at the National Stadium, Dublin, and concluded their final training session on Saturday.
Team Ireland: 46kg Ava McCabe, Jobstown BC, Dublin; 48kg Abbey Molloy, Sacred Heart Boxing Club Dublin; 52kg Kayleigh Byrne, Gorey BC, Wexford; 54kg Elma Barry, Setanta Boxing Academy, Kildare; 57kg Grace Conway, Tredagh Boxing Academy, Louth 51kg Michael Reilly, St. Paul’s Boxing Club, Waterford; 54kg James McCann, St. Monica’s ABC, Newry; 57kg Sean McCusker, Dealgan BC, Louth; 60kg Daniel Hunter, Corpus Christi ABC, Belfast; 67kg John Donoghue, Olympic Boxing Club, Westmeath; 71kg Rati Abulzade, Togher BC, Cork 75kg Jason Whelan, Dublin Docklands BC; 80kg Chulainn McDonnell, Whitechurch BC, Dublin.