Ireland Claim Five Gold Medals to Top the Table in Helsinki (boxing)

Ireland won five gold medals from five finals to finish on top of the medals table at the 15-nation Gee Bee Multi-Nations in Helsinki today. Michael Conlon, David Oliver Joyce, Jason Quigley, Ken Egan and Tommy McCarthy had their hands raised in triumph.

In further celebration, Finn Valley BC Donegal middleweight Jason Quigley and St John Bosco BC Belfast flyweight Conlon - who both recorded victories over England scooped the Best Boxer and Best Technical Boxer of the tournament awards.Egan, meanwhile, won his third Gee Bee gold medal on the trot with a 3-2 decision over Eemeli Katajisto of Finland in the light-heavyweight class.Belfast heavyweight Tommy McCarthy produced a quality performance to beat French 2008 Olympian John M'Bumba, a two-time AIBA World bronze medalist, 12-9.

St Michael's Athy lightweight David Oliver Joyce registered Ireland's second victory of the session with a 9-4 verdict over Luke Jackson of Australia. Conlon got the gold rush underway with a  convincing 11-5 decision over England's Tony Stubbs and Quigley was superb in his 13-5 win over Stubb's compatriot Anthony Ogogo. Today's wins arrive two days after Ireland won three gold and one silver at the Feliks Stamm Multi-Nations in Warsaw, a medal haul that saw the six-man Ireland squad finish in second place in the medals table at the 16-nation tournament.

Joe Ward, John Joe Nevin and Darren O'Neill secured gold in Warsaw and Con Sheehan claimed silver. In total, Ireland claimed eight gold, one silver and one bronze from the two tournaments, winning 25 bouts and losing five in Warsaw and Helsinki. Jimmy Halpin and Connor Quigley were working Ireland's corner in Helsinki.