IRISH BOXING COACH Eddie Bolger has suggested his team might have been punished for embarrassing the International Boxing Association (AIBA) over the Michael O’Reilly doping scandal.
Michael Conlan’s controversial defeat this afternoon means the Irish team will return home from the Olympics without a medal for the first time since the 2004 Games.
All seven boxers have been knocked out before the medals have been handed out but the elimination of Conlan and Katie Taylor has left a particularly sour taste in the mouth.
Conlan was robbed of another Olympic bronze as all three judges decided his Russian opponent was the victor in their bantamweight quarter-final, leaving Bolger to wonder were his boxers being punished for what developed before the Games.
“I thought there was only winner, I thought there was only one winner yesterday,” he said. “Something’s afoot. I think the media should highlight it more than us, we can’t really speak.
“There are rumours around the village that names are on the medals already, you don’t believe that or you don’t want to be that naive.
“Again our performances in the ring have been second to none, they’ve been really good. We’ve competed with the best in the world here, there have been a few split decisions and we really can’t control those decisions.
“I’m so proud of Michael Conlan, I’m so proud of Katie yesterday. They’ve held themselves together better than I have. I’m so proud of all the team. This is has been a great Olympics. We’ve learned a lot.
“We kind of embarrassed the AIBA at the start and maybe we’re being punished for that, I don’t know the real reason. It’s just boggling.”
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That’s some half backline UCC have, intercounty standard! Maybe a bit light in the forwards with conway being the only standout name. But hopefully they will get a few more big names back from defeated clubs after this weekend.
Hope UCC win the cork championship, to highlight how crazy it is that they can compete.
@Gareth Ward: not a bad sub tipp senior mark kehoe
@Gareth Ward: “but hopefully they will get a few big names back”. Is that because they were playing with their clubs and not available tonight? Can you see how stupid your comment is when you look at it like that! UCC bring nothing to the Cork SHC. Amend the rules now so that students at the start of the season have to declare for their club or college. But can’t play with both. Let’s see how many Paddy Cadells /Paddy O’Loughlins they have then.
@Johnny B: Read my comment again and you’ll understand son. That is exactly what i mean. As i said i do hope they win it to highlight how crazy it is that they can take part.
I don’t particularly care what they add to the cork championship, which is why i want them to win!
@Gareth Ward: apologies. Twas late when I read your comment (and was after a few pints). Didn’t read it properly. Apologies again.
@Johnny B: Apparently they can get back montgomery from from waterford. And bill sheehan from dicksboro can play as well when he’s available. Assuming mark kehoe will start in the next game, they’ll have quiet a strong forward unit built up then!