22 National Elite Champions have been crowned.

22 National Elite Champions have been crowned at the home of Irish boxing in a fantastic night of competition.

The 2024 National Elite Championship finals are another key step on the Road to Paris for IABA athletes. Five boxers – lightweight Olympic Champion, Kellie Harrington, Tokyo Olympians 75kg Aoife O’Rourke and 57kg Michaela Walsh, as well as 63.5kg Dean Clancy and 92kg Jack Marley, have already qualified for the 2024 Olympics.

Results

67kg Ryan McCarthy (Fr. Horgans) beat Cian Cramer (Cabra), 4-1

63kg Linda Desmond (Rylane) beat Isabella Hughes (St Marys D), 4-1

75kg Joshua Olaniyan (Jobstown) beat Christopher O’Reilly (Holy Family L), 5-0

60kg Kellie Harrington (St Marys D) beat Zara Breslin (Tramore), 5-0

48kg Lois Walsh (Fr Flanagans) beat Carol Coughlan (Monkstown D), 4-1

48kg Bryce Collins (Holy Trinity) W/O

60kg Jason Nevin (Olympic L) beat Nathan May (Dublin Docklands), 3-2

54kg Jennifer Lehane (DCU Athletic) beat Niamh Fay (Ballyboughal), 5-0

57kg Jude Gallagher (Two Castles) beat Adam Hession (Monivea), 5-0

50kg Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry) beat Shannon Sweeney (St Annes), 5-0

75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Olympic C) W/0

92+kg Martin McDonagh (Crumlin) beat Illia Mtsariashvili (Docklands), 5-0

71kg Dean Walsh (St Ibars/Josephs) beat Eugene McKeever (Holy Family L), 3-2

54kg Danny Duffy (Raphoe) beat Oisin Worsencroft (St Colmans), 5-0

92kg Jack Marley (Monkstown D) beat Wayne Rafferty (Dublin Docklands), 5-0

57kg Michaela Walsh (Holy Family GG) beat Kellie McLoughlin (St Catherines), 5-0

70kg Shauna Kearney (Bunclody) W/O

51kg Sean Mari (Monkstown/Defence F) beat Ricky Nesbitt (Holy Family L), 5-0

66kg Grainne Walsh (St Marys D) beat Christina Desmond (Dungarvan), 5-0

80kg Kelyn Cassidy (Saviours Crystal) beat Gabriel Dossen (Olympic C), 4-1

63.5kg Aaron O’Donoghue (Golden Gloves M) beat John Paul Hale (Star), 3-2

86kg Vitali Ustimov (Celtic Eagles) beat James Redmond (Ballybrack), 5-0

IABA is delighted to affirm a renewal of our partnership with Sport TG4.

This evening’s programme was live-streamed by Sport TG4 on YouTube. Seán Bán Breathnach, Cuán Ó Flatharta, Antoine Toto Ó Gríofa & Kaci Rock shared commentary & co-commentary. Re-watch all of the bouts here:

 

Records were broken this evening, as double Olympian, Michaela Walsh, and reigning Olympic Champion and Paris Olympian, Kellie Harrington. both claimed their 11th National Elite Championship titles. They contested against Kellie McLoughlin and Zara Breslin, respectively.

No tournament can take place without Officials, and the 2024 National Elite Championships is no different – thanks to the R&Js, bout machine operators, Box Masters, Glove Masters and our MC, Peter O’Donnell, for ensuring these were a fantastic championships

Eugene Duffy has been honoured for his decades of services to boxing with a Life Time Achievement Award, bestowed during this evening’s 2024 National Elite Championship Finals by National Registrar, Philip Rooney.

 

A native of Derry, Eugene began his boxing career in Derry Sports Club in 1957, joining St. Eugene’s BC in the early 1960s. By 1978, was officiating at county and Provincial level in Ulster. At the close of the decade, had begun officiating at national championships in the home of Irish Boxing.

In a long and illustrious career, Eugene has officiated at competitions including the 2003 World Elite Championships in Thailand, Olympic qualifiers in Europe, America and Trinidad and Tobago, European championships, USA World Golden Gloves Invitational Tournament in Minnesota in 2005, the Commonwealth Games finals in Kuala Lumpur in 2004, as well as over 70 other box cups, round robins and international tournaments.

Outside the ring, Eugene holds the record as the long-serving elected member of the Ulster Boxing Council. He has also served as UBC Registrar, and Chair of the provincial council’s Referee and Judging Committee. Closer to home, Eugene has held every position in the Derry County Board, bar that of Treasurer, and was a member of Central Council in the 1990s.

The President of St Joseph’s Boxing Club was honoured by the I.A.B.A. for Outstanding Services to Boxing in 2017.

This evening also marked the retirement from officiating of National Registrar, Philip Rooney.

The IBA 3 Star Referee has been an official for over 35 years, and has officiated at Category A events throughout the globe, as well as countless National Championship tournaments. His final national/international bout was this evening’s 60kg final, between Kellie Harrington and Zara Breslin. Philip will continue in his role as IABA National Registrar