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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Ring masters Aoife O'Rourke and Jack Marley take centre stage as they stake Olympic claim

Tokyo Olympian Aoife O'Rourke and heavyweight Jack Marley take centre stage as five Irish boxers contest European Games semi-finals in Poland on Friday.

Kellie Harrington, Michaela Walsh and Dean Clancy have already qualified for Paris 2024 via quarter-final victories on Wednesday.

But middleweight O'Rourke and Dubliner Marley have to make their final at the Nowy Targ Arena to reach next summer's Games and so they will deservedly hog the spotlight tomorrow afternoon as they hope to avoid the fate of Amy Broadhurst and six more of their disappointed team-mates.

READ MORE: Kellie Harrington jubilant as emotional day throws up Olympic winners and losers for Irish boxing

"All these fights are tough, everyone is at their best and you can't take anyone for granted," said Roscommon's O'Rourke, who faces home favourite Elzbieta Wojcik in the 75kg category.

"I try to just do what the coaches ask me to, they have the tactics spot on."

O'Rourke, whose sister Lisa claimed a world title last year, added: "Every boxer that comes here wants to qualify for the Olympic Games and, for me, I want to reach the final so another fight to go before I can secure that and fingers crossed I'll do it.

"Hopefully we'll get over the line. The whole of Team Ireland has done so well, there are 12 of us here and we've all put on a performance."

Monkstown boxer Marley took care of business against seasoned Croatian campaigner Marko Calic in his quarter-final to secure at least a bronze medal.

Ireland’s Jack Marley and Marko Calic of Croatia (©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo)

The 20-year-old said: "I'm another step closer to the dream, I'm nearly there, but it's always like that.

"I never look past any fights, even the thought of it, because the minute you do that you're gone.

"So it's just focus on what's in front of you. It's just another fight.

"Every single fight I've had so far is an Olympic qualifier fight, if I lost I was gone, so it's the same."

Freed from the weight of expectancy after booking her ticket for Paris, Tokyo gold medallist Harrington is first in the ring for the Irish contingent.

Her opponent is French woman Estelle Mossely, who shocked Katie Taylor in the semi-finals of the world championships in 2016.

Friday's schedule

12:30 (13:30) Women’s 60kg, Semi-final, Kellie Harrington (IRE) V Estelle Mossely (FRA)
14:00 (15:00) Men’s 63.5kg, Semi-final, Dean Clancy (IRE) V Sofaine Oumiha (FRA)
15:00 (16:00) Men’s 92kg, Semi-final OLYMPIC QUALIFIER, Jack Marley (IRE) V Emanuel Reyes Pla (ESP)
17:45 (18:45) Women’s 57kg, Semi-final, Michaela Walsh (IRE) V Amina Zidani (FRA)
18:15 (19:15) Women’s 75kg, Semi-final, OLYMPIC QUALIFIER, Aoife O’Rourke (IRE) V Elzbieta Wojcik (POL)

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