Eropean silver medallist Gracie Conway of the Tredagh Boxing Academy.
Boxer Grace Conway received a hero’s welcome recently when she returned to her home town of Dunleer from the European Youth U 18 Boxing Championships in Croatia with a silver medal.
Grace, who boxes for Tredagh Boxing Academy, had some tough bouts to progress to the final but with some slick counter punching skills she managed to defeat Romanian champion Martyna Koczkodaj to advance to the quarter finals.
In the semi-final Grace faced talented Italian Champion, Madalina Grabucea, who had looked very impressive in the previous rounds. However, a dominant display of boxing with her trademark hard hitting backhand saw Grace book her place in the final and at least a silver medal in the championships.
In the final Grace faced the reigning European Champion Taisiia Pokusai from Ukraine and what was billed as a classic encounter lived up to all expectations.
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The first round was a tight affair with Taisiia taking it on all 5 judges’ cards. In the second Conway fought with great determination and skill and most of the crowd thought she had won but only three of the five judges gave her the round.
Taisiia started the third very strongly but received a public warning and had a point deducted. After this Grace took control and, after a wait of what seemed like ages, everyone thought that the decision would go her way.
Grace rose her hand with confidence while Pokusai looked to the ground but after a review the split decision went 5-2 in favor of the Ukrainian much to the disappointment of the Irish corner and everyone watching at home.
Although Grace was disappointed it has been an amazing journey for this talented girl whom had an amazing European Championships taking home her second European silver medal. What makes it even more amazing is that she is still underage again for the same tournament next year.
Grace also helped Ireland to win third place overall in the medals tables at the Championships. Grace had been working part time all summer and year while training to save for a school skiing trip in Austria. It turned out it was the same dates she was away at the championships and decided to forfeit the trip in order to represent her country at the championships and got her just rewards. Everyone at Tredagh Boxing Academy are very proud of Grace and her development.
Grace’s local community had a homecoming welcome for her as her friends and family lined the street as she came back to Dunleer to a hero’s welcome by Garda Escort.
She also had a hero’s welcome in her secondary school at Scoil Ui Mhuire in Dunleer as all the students in the school and teachers lined the school to clap her into a reception in the main hall facilitated by the principal.
Tredagh Boxing Academy will also host a reception celebration for Grace on 24th May in the Main House in An Grianan at 7 pm where everyone is welcome from the community the celebrate her amazing achievements of not only two European Silver medals but also six All-Ireland Titles.