A Leinster referees and judges seminar will be held at the Ryston BC in Kildare on Saturday, February 6th, next.

Saturday’s seminar begins at 10am.

Please see below attachment for domestic fixtures 2016.

The first national tournament of the year begins on March 29th next when Ireland’s talented young prospects take centre stage at Dublin’s National Stadium in the Boy 1,2 & 3 Championships.

Fixture List 2016

Michael O’Reilly (blue) in action at World Elite Championships

World No. 3 ranked middleweight Michael O’Reilly believes that 2016 will be a special year.

The Portlaoise BC man took the international Elite circuit by storm in 2015 after claiming European Games gold and, at the first time of asking, World Elite bronze in 2015 and has his sights firmly set on the Olympic qualifiers in Samsun, Turkey in April.

The 2011 European Youth silver medallist was denied at place at Rio 2016 after being adjudged to have lost to Egypt’s Hosam Abdin – a fight which O’Reilly clearly won – in a box-off for Rio 2016 at the World Championships in Qatar last November.

“2015 was a very special year for me, getting a European Games gold medal, world bronze. It’s gone by very fast,” O’Reilly, the current Irish Elite champion, told the Irish News.

“Then I came so close to qualifying for the Olympic Games. It was very, very hard at the start, trying to get over it. I won the fight, won every single round. It was quite a big upset for me and it was difficult.

Michael O’Reilly (red) in action

 
“But you just have to put it aside, things like that happen in boxing. It makes me more hungry, makes me want to try harder to make sure I do qualify. It happens, what can you do?

“I knew there were two qualifiers left, so I never doubted myself. I still have great faith that I will qualify.”

The 22-year-old will be ready for whatever comes at him this year.

He added: “When I go to those championships I get myself in tip-top condition and make sure I’m ready for whatever comes at me. There’s no excuses, and there’ll be no excuses.

“2015 was a special year, but 2016 will be even more special.”

O’Reilly is currently in training camp with the Irish Elite team, the Ulster Elite team and High Performance squad and a Russian squad at the University of Ulster.

Mick O’Brien, President of the Cork Board, addresses the attendance at the recent awards

Cork rolled out the red carpet for its current and past boxers and administrators at its interim headquarters in Churchfield.

The first-time winners of Irish titles were presented with Jack McAuliffe gold medals, which are sponsored by the Cork Ex Boxers Association (CEBA). Five-time Irish champion Tommy McCarthy accepted the “Champ of Champions” trophy,

The 1961 Cork team, who took on Dublin in an Inter-County meeting 55 years ago, were honoured, along with Dan Lane, a boxer, coach and founder of the Rylane BC and one of the great stalwarts of the sport in Ireland.

Cork Board President Mick O’Brien, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, five-time Irish champion Tommy McCarthy, Lord Mayor of Cork Chris O’Leary and CEBA President Timmy O’Sullivan

Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin, Cllr. Chris Shields, Lord Mayor of Cork, and officials from Cork City Hall attended the awards as special guests of the Cork County Boxing Board (CCBB).

Mick O’Brien, President of the CCBB, congratulated the award recipients and all concerned for their contribution to what he described as outstanding occasion of celebration amid a tremendous atmosphere.

See Thursday’s Evening Echo for the weekly boxing page.

Dan Lane, Wife, Family, and Rylane BC members,

Irish Elite champion Lauren Hogan

An Edenderry selection plus top guests fly out to Canada tomorrow ahead of the start of the Brampton Cup for men and women.

The tournament begins in Ontario on Friday.

The draw has already been made, with Cheyanne O’Neill slated to meet Caroyln Redmond of Toronto in the last-eight.

Please click here for pairings.

Click here for Brampton Cup website

Edenderry Selection and Guests

Elite
51kg Lauren Hogan (capt)
51kg Ceire Smith
57kg Saidhbh Greene
64kg Cheyanne O’Neill
69kg Grainne Walsh

Youth
48kg Caitlin Sweeney
51kg Kelsey Leonard
54kg Natasha Logan
57kg Labhaoise Clarke
64kg Shannon Edge

Junior
54kg Tiffany O Reilly
50kg Sarah Edge
57kg Caoimhe Martin
66kg Lauren Kelly
80kg Ellen O’Connell

Junior
48kg Eoghan Brereton

Elite Novice
69kg Juile Andre