By Dermot Keys

Finn Valley boxer Jason Quigley is the pride of Ireland after securing the country’s only medal in the European Youth Championships in Szczecin, Poland.

The welterweight boxer is guaranteed at least a bronze medal after his hard-fought 4-3 quarter-final win over Turkey’s Muratcan Bugra Oner last night (Wednesday). The reigning Irish U21 and Intermediate champion is the only member of the Irish team left in the competition and he will fight Dgaba Hospitashil of Georgia in today’s semi-final.

This achievement is particularly impressive as the 18-year-old from the Finn Valley Boxing Club is fighting in this age category for the first time.  A win in the semi-final would see him progress to Saturday’s final.

Quigley started the tournament with a 6-0 win over Finland’s Joni Polishsuk on Sunday. He followed this up with a cagey 2-0 win over Romanian, Paraschiveanu Catalin, on Tuesday.

The Donegal teenager’s success has also preserved national pride by retaining the IABA’s record of having won medals in every international tournament since the World Senior Championships in Chicago in November 2007.