Two wins for Irish Boxers Ken Egan and Willie McLaughlin in European Championships

Irish boxers Ken Egan and Willie McLaughlin got Ireland's European Union Championships campaign off to a winning start with last 16 victories in Odense, Denmark.

Irish light heavyweight Ken Egan will begon his quest for a third European Union Championships gold medal in a row within the  last 16 clash versus Romania's Constantin Bejenaru at the Odense Sports Centre in Odense, Denmark yesterday The meeting was  Egan's first international contest since he lost the 81Kg Olympic final to China's Xiaoping Zhang in China last August.
The Egan versus Bejenaru showdown is a repeat of the 2007 European Union final which Egan won 23-17 at the National Stadium in Dublin.
Meanwhile, Irish welterweight 69Kg champion Willie McLaughlin was also in action  versus Turkish welterweight Erkan Bingol.
Belfast light flyweight Paddy Barnes withdrew from the Championships on Saturday after suffering a recurrance of a bronchial infection. 

Egan impressed in an 18-4 three round win over Constantin Bejenaru of Romania nd McLaughlin stopped Turkish welterweight Erkan Bingol in the second frame.
Tipperary heavyweight Con Sheehan has received a bye straight into the semi finals of the European Union Championshipsin in Odense, Denmark where he'll meet England's Danny Price on Thursday.
Willie McLaughlin and Ken Egan will begin Ireland's EU campaign within the last 16 bouts versus Erkan Bingol of Turkey and Constantin Bejenaru of Romania.
Meanwhile, John Joe Nevin faces Polish bantamweight Mateusz Mazik in Wednesday's 54Kg quarter final in a repeat of the 2008 European Union final which Nevin  won 10-4 in Cetniewo, Poland.
The 2009 Championships gets underway with ten bouts at the Odense Sports Centre in Denmark tonight
Friday is a rest day at the Championships which are featuring 20 nations. The finals will be held on Saturday. (See Calendar)

Lign up;

 2009 European Union Championships Draw (Ireland)

Monday June 15th (last 16)

69Kg:Willie McLaughlin (Ireland) v Erkan Bingol (Turkey)

81Kg:Ken Egan (Ireland) v Constantin Bejenaru (Romania)

Tuesday June 16th (Last 16)

51Kg:Declan Geraghty (Ireland) v Nordine Ait Ihay (France)

57Kg:David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) v Denis Ceylan (Denmark)

64Kg:Philip Sutcliffe (Ireland) v Steven Sharoudi (Scotland)

75Kg:Darren O'Neill (Ireland) v Ulus Kaya (Turkey)

Wednesday June 17th (Quarter Finals)

54Kg: John Joe Nevin (Ireland) v Mateusz Mazik (Poland)

60Kg: Eric Donovan (Ireland) v Husnu Kocabas (Holland)

Thursday June 18th (Semi Finals)

91Kg: Con Sheehan (Ireland) v Danny Price (England)