Grace Conway of Tredagh Boxing Academy has claimed a silver medal at the U19 European Boxing Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic — an outstanding achievement for the 18-year-old and another proud moment for Irish boxing.
Representing Ireland as part of a 13-strong national squad, Grace began her campaign with a hard-fought win over Italy’s Martina di Felice in the last 16. In an action-packed bout, she controlled the distance with sharp backhand crosses and combinations, earning a unanimous decision victory to move into the quarter-finals.
In the next round, Grace faced a tough opponent from the Czech Republic, edging a tight first round before dominating the second and forcing a standing count in the final round. She secured a decisive win and a bronze medal for Ireland, before advancing to the semi-finals.
Her semi-final bout was a major test against the Romanian Champion — a two-time World MMA Champion and last year’s European silver medallist. After losing the opening round, Grace rallied with determination, winning the second through sheer grit and trading heavy combinations in the third. In one of the tournament’s standout performances, she won by unanimous decision, booking her place in the European final and guaranteeing a silver medal.
In the final, Grace met the reigning World WBO Champion from England. After a cautious opening round scored 4–1 to the English boxer, Grace increased her tempo in the second and landed the cleaner shots, though the judges narrowly favoured her opponent 3–2. The final round saw Grace dominate, with all judges scoring it 5–0 in her favour. The contest ended in a 3–2 split decision, with the English fighter taking gold by a single point — 8 to 7 on aggregate.
It was a narrow and hard-fought result, with Grace again showing her class on the international stage. The Tredagh boxer now holds three European silver medals and nine national titles, cementing her reputation as one of Ireland’s brightest young boxing talents.
Tredagh Boxing Academy paid tribute to Grace’s achievement, noting her composure and skill throughout the tournament, as well as the support from her parents Mick Conway and Theresa Dowling, her club coaches, teammates, and the Irish supporters who travelled to Ostrava.
There was further success for County Louth, with Sean McClusker of Dealgan Boxing Club, Dundalk, also claiming a silver medal, giving Louth both of Ireland’s finalists in this year’s championships.
Back home, Tredagh Boxing Academy had more reason to celebrate, with four boxers — Sasha Donica, Adam Walsh, Ceejay Sheelan, and Charlie Flannagan — all winning their debut bouts in the Dublin League Championships.
The club also congratulated five newly qualified coaches — Nicola Newman, Alan Barnett, Noel Smyth, Sarah Anne, and Paddy McCormack — who all successfully completed their IABA coaching certificates.
