Hugh Myres and Jason Quigley advanced to the 49kg and 75kg finals at the European U/23 Championships following semi-final wins over Israel and Russia in Russia today.

Myres, who boxes out of the Ryston BC in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, beat Israeli light-flyweight David Albrdian 16-8 at the Sports Palace in Kaliningrad.

And Quigley (Finn Valley BC, Donegal) followed that up with a 15-13 decision over Russian southpaw Maksim Timofeev in the middleweight class.

Both Irish boxers are now guaranteed at least silver.

Myres, taking the bout to his opponent and also boxing superbly on the counter, won the first two rounds (5-2,5-3), before claiming the third 6-3 to seal a commanding victory.

The Mullingar man will now meet Karium Sogomonyan in Tuesday’s final.

The Armenian, described by Irish team manager and coach John Finn as an “elusive customer”, beat Russia’s Vasily Egorev in the corresponding semi-final today.

Quigley (Finn Valley BC) is no stranger to winning gold in European competition as he went all the way at the 2009 European Youth Championships in Szczecin, Poland.

The Donegal orthodox used his height and reach advantage to good effect versus Timofeev in today's last-four duel.

Scoring almost exclusively with right backhands, Quigley took the first two rounds 5-4 and 7-3, but ceded two points after receiving a harsh public warning for holding in the third, a round which Timofeev won 6-3

Germany’s Deniss Radovan awaits in Tuesday’s 75kg final.

Kilkenny southpaw Darren O’Neill, who captained the Irish boxing team at the 2012 Olympics, beat Radovan in Round Robin tournaments in France and Germany in 2011 and 2012.

“We have two into the finals now and we have at least two silver medals. Hopefully, we can make that two gold medals tomorrow, said John Finn.

“Hugh and Jason boxed very well today and their confidence will be high in Tuesday’s finals. It will be a big day for us tomorrow.”

European U/23 Championships Kaliningrad, Russia

December 11th

Last 16

69kg: Thurles Moran (Ireland) beat Tubhi Taha Amara (Israel) 14-10

Last 32

75kg: Jason Quigley (Ireland) beat Adam Grabecz (Hungary) 16-3

December 12th

Last-16

60kg: Mark O’Hara (Ireland) beat Aleko Chadashvili (Georgia) 12-9

64kg: Rohan Date (Ireland) lost to Oleg Nekludov (Ukraine) 9-10

December 13th

Last -16

56kg: Declan Geraghty (Ireland) beat Erik Sokolov (Germany) 15-6

75kg: Jason Quigley (Ireland) beat Deniss Kormilin (Estonia) 19-7

December 14th

Quarter-finals

49kg: Hugh Myres (Ireland) beat Ory Georges (France) 17-10

69kg: Thurlus Moran (Ireland) lost Pavel Kostromin (Belarus) 9-12

91kg: Christy Joyce (Ireland) lost to Gevory Manukyn (Ukraine) RSC2

December 15th

Quarter-finals

56kg: Declan Geraghty (Ireland) lost to Vladimir Nikitin (Russia) 7-17

60kg: Mark O’Hara (Ireland) lost to Maksim Shmiglev (Russia) 10-22

75kg: Jason Quigley (Ireland) beat Victor Carapchevschii (Moldova) 12-9

December 17th

Semi-finals

49kg: Hugh Myres (Ireland) beat David Albrdian (Israel) 16-8

75kg: Jason Quigley (Ireland) beat Maksim Timofeev (Russia) 15-13

December 18th

49kg: Hugh Myres (Ireland) v Kariun Sogomonyan (Armenia)

75kg: Jason Quigley (Ireland) v Deniss Radovan (Germany)

Irish squad

49kg: Hugh Myres (Ryston)

56kg: Declan Geraghty (Crumlin)

60kg: Mark O’Hara (Holy Trinity)

64kg: Rohan Date (St Pauls)

69kg: Thurles Moran (Phibsboro)

75kg: Jason Quigley (Finn Valley)

91kg: Christy Joyce (St Michael’s Athy)

Coach/Team Manager: John Finn

Coach: Zuar Antia

Physio: Conor McCarthy