Athy boxer named in Irish team looking to seal Olympic qualification

Athy boxer David Oliver Joyce has been picked as part of the nine-strong Irish team that will go to Turkey looking to seal their places at the Olympics in Rio later this year.

The St Michael's Athy lightweight has been with the Irish team training in Assisi since Monday morning, and they will travel to Samsun in Turkey on 7 April for the European Olympic Qualifiers that begin on 9 April.

Joyce narrowly missed out on a place in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, but the 29-year-old appears well set to claim a spot in Rio after he captured the Irish Lightweight title when he defeated Sean McComb in December.

The top three men in each weightclass at the European qualifiers will go through to the Olympics, meaning that Joyce has a great chance of finally fulfilling his Olympic dream.