Manorhamilton boxer Dearbhla Rooney bagged bronze at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.
The Leitrim girl beat her New Zealand opponent, Te Mania Rzeka Tai Shelford-Edmonds, by a unanimous decision but missed out on a final place after losing out to the eventual Olympic champion from Thailand, Panpatchara Somnuek,
“I’m absolutely over the moon,” said Rooney after the final bout.
“If you told me this time last year, I’d never have believed I’d be on the Youth Olympic team, let alone be coming away with a bronze medal.”
“I was heartbroken yesterday after losing in the semis to Thailand, but she’s a very strong girl, she stopped the Slovakian three-time European champion in the bout before me.
“She also stopped me in the worlds beforehand – so it is a positive I’m up there with the best in the world it just made me come back and win the bronze.”
Seventeen-year-old Rooney has been passionate about boxing since taking it up aged 11.
“I started when I was 1. My brother was going in to do a bit of boxing, so I said I’d go along with him.
“I picked it up fast and enjoyed the training. I won my first All-Ireland that year.
“Thanks so much to everyone who supported me, there’s so many people, my club coaches, my sponsors, and everyone as well.”
Rooney’s family travelled to watch her compete in Buenos Aires, after winning her medal, Rooney said, “I haven’t really been talking to them yet, but I could hear them definitely, the loudest ones here.
“Lauren [Kelly] is brilliant at supporting, and so is the rest of the Irish team, a big thank you to them as well.”
Earlier today Dean Clancy (Ballinacarrow) finished fourth at flyweight (49-52kg), following a defeat today by Brazil’s Luiz Gabriel Chalot de Oliviera in the Bronze Medal Bout.
“It didn’t go my way today, but it is what it is, he got the better of me today,” 16-year-old Clancy said after the fight.
“Every fight is valuable experience and he’s two years older than me.
“He’s the world bronze medallist and I tried my best, but he’s two years ahead of me.”
“To get here is a massive achievement, the whole experience is amazing, this is my first tournament every being with multiple sports.
“I’m sharing my room with a karate person and a golfer – I was never around that before. I learnt a lot – valuable experience, it is what it is.
“It will push me on to be better, I’m still youth next year.”
The final day at the Youth Olympic Games will see Sean McCarthy Crean from Cork competing in the Men’s Kumite + 68kg.
Bowls
Holders Oriel will begin their defence of the Boomer Cup when they host South Tyrone in tomorrow's preliminary round.
Winners of the trophy on five occasions Oriel will be difficult on their home mats against the visitors who last won the trophy in 1992.
Donegal also look set for success when they entertain Mid Antrim while Monaghan may take the honours when they visit Belfast.
The other fixtures are: Foyle v Western; Larne v Northern; North Down v West Down.
Golf
Dame Laura Davies claimed her second women's senior major title of the 2018 season with a wire-to-wire victory at the Senior LPGA Championship.
Davies defied winds gusting up to 25mph at French Link in Indiana to card a final round of 70 and finish eight under par, four shots clear of Helen Alfredsson and winner Silvia Cavalleri.
American Michele Redman was the only other player to finish in red figures on one under.
"This is fantastic," Davies said. "Winning the US Senior Women's Open was a real thrill and this is a golf course that I didn't think I could win on. So for me, this is a real victory.
"I've always played okay around here, but I've never strung three rounds together. I've always had one big number so this is nice."
The victory means Davies has won both senior women's majors on the schedule.
"I wish there were more of them to play," the 55-year-old added.
