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Ireland's boxers are on course to win three medals at this year's European Boxing Championships.

"This is a terrific team, headed by two Olympic medallists and a world medallist.  Kenny, Paddy and John Joe have all proved they can box at the highest level.  If they can repeat the level of performance that they showed at the Beijing Olympics, and again at last year's World Boxing Championships, then three medals are not out of the question," said Dunne, who will be working as an RTE analyst during the championships.

Other boxers who could realistically challenge for medals, according to Dunne, are Athy's Eric Donoyan and John Joe Joyce, young Ray Moylette, and the fighting teacher,  Darren O'Neill, from Paulstown.  He warned, however, that podium finishes will be hard-earned.  "Some of the best boxing nations in the world are in Europe - and we can certainly expect big performances from the host nation.  I would predict that Russia will top the medal table, and the former Soviet states will also do very well."

Ireland has won five European medals this century, courtesy of bronze medals for Andy Lee, Ken Egan, Joyce, Ross Hickey and Eamon O'Kane. Dublin featherweight Paul Griffen was the last Irish boxer to win European gold in 1991, followed by a silver medal win for middleweight Brian Magee in 1998.

Over 380 of Irish Hockey’s population gathered in the Burlington hotel on Saturday, May 29 for the most prestigious night of the hockey season - the ESB Irish Hockey Awards.

The evening, attended by the minister for the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin, saw two Irish internationals scoop the top two awards. This year's ESB women’s players player of the year went to Ireland vice captain & defender Bridget Cleland while Michael Watt took the Samurai Men’s player’s player of the year.

The ESB senior club Female player of the year was awarded to Karen Bateman from Cork Harlequins while the Captain of Monkstown, Gareth Watkins, was presented the Samurai Senior Male Club player of the Year Award. ESB U18 female Player of the year Award was collected by St Andrews & Hermes’ Chloe Watkins while Shane O’Donoghue from High School and Glenanne picked up the Samurai Male U18 Male player of the year award.

 The night saw a particularly large attendance from Railway Union Ladies Hockey Club Members, who were celebrating receiving the ESB Club of the Year award and the fact that their Coach Mick McKinnon picked up the O’Driscoll O’Neil Coach of the year.

Botanic also came out in their droves and were rewarded when they were announced as the Trilogy Technologies Youth Club of the Year Award.

There were plenty of more winners on the night, full list below.

School club of the Year: St. Andrews College, Dublin.

DVD Centre developing club of the Year Award: North Kildare

Trilogy Technologies Youth Club of the Year Award: Botanic

Local Lotto Volunteer of the year award: Ciaran Delaney (Knocknacarra)

Dixon Rose Umpire of the Year award: Kieran Bolger

O’Driscoll O’Neil U18 Coach of the Year Award: David Egner (Cork Harlequins)

O’Driscoll O’Neil Coach of the Year: Mick McKinnon (Railway Union)

ESB Club of the Year: Railway Union Ladies Hockey Club

ESB U18 Female Player of the Year: Chloe Watkins (St Andrews, Hermes, Ireland)

Samurai U18 Male Player of the Year: Shane O’Donoghue (High School, Glenanne, Ireland)

ESB Senior Women’s Club Player of the Year: Karen Bateman (Cork Harlequins)

Samurai Senior Men’s Club Player of the Year: Gareth Watkins (Monkstown)

ESB Players Player of the Year Awards: Bridget Cleland (Ireland)

Samurai Players Player of the Year Award: Michael Watt (Ireland)

President’s Awards: John Smyth

2010 Hall of Fame Inductees: Margaret Gleghorne (Ulster); Mary Geaney (Munster); Eddie Cummins (Munster) and Billy McConnell (Ulster)

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