Antrim’s Monkstown ABC and Limerick’s Rathkeale BC did the double and Brandon McCarthy nailed Irish title No. 15 – and his first Elite crown – at the National Stadium tonight.
Brother and sister Michaela and Aidan Walsh claimed feather and welter titles at the expense of Emma Agnew and Callum Walsh and Nell Fox and Jason Harty made sure Treaty boxing was celebrating on unanimous and split decisions over Leona Houlihan and John Joe Nevin.
Jude Gallagher and Regan Buckley, meantime, matched the classic 2009 final between Rio Olympian David Oliver Joyce and two-weight World pro champion Carl Frampton in terms of drama and action.
Both men went about their business with intensity, guts and guilt before Gallagher had his hand raised in victory on a night of celebration for Tyrone’s Two Castles BC.
Former Elite champion Eric Donovan worked Gallagher’s corner tonight and said he’d made an arrangement with pro boxing chiefs to weigh-in tomorrow, as opposed to today, ahead of his 11th paid fight in Glasgow on Saturday night.
Sean Mari and Evelyn Igharo took home the first two belts on offer on 3-2 splits and Brandon McCarthy outpointed Barry McReynolds, a two-time European medallist at underage level, to secure belt number 15.
“Absolutely amazing, I can’t get over it. What a night, what a way to win an Elite title. It still hasn’t set in yet,” said McCarthy, also a European underage medallist of the St Michael’s Athy unit.
Jude Gallagher & Daina Moorehouse won the Best Male & Female Boxers Award
Meanwhile, Dean Clancy beat defending feather champion Patryk Adamus in a fierce encounter and Aidan Walsh earned a unanimous decision over Cork southpaw Callum Walsh. Olympic champion Michael Carruth presented the accolades.
Emmet Brennan emerged victorious versus defending light-heavy titlist Thomas O’Toole.
“It was a great fight, better fight than I thought it would be,” said the Dublin Dockland’s BC man.
Meantime, Ceire Smith landed her 7th Elite belt on a unanimous decision over Niamh Earley.
“I got the opportunity tonight against a very good, strong upcoming opponent. It’s lovely to see another generation up and coming. Thanks very much to my opponent, great fight,” said Smith of the Cavan BC.
Cork’s Christina Desmond beat Offaly’s Grainne Walsh on a 4-1 split in a repeat of last February’s welter final which Desmond also won on a split. Tonight’s encounter, in one of the five Olympic limits for females, was equally as close, with Walsh probably shading the first round and Desmond edging frames two and three.
Another key bout in an Olympic weight saw George Bates topple Wayne Kelly 4-1 in the 63kg class, while big Ken Okungbowa, who claimed the heavyweight belt in February, secured the super heavy belt tonight on a 4-1 split decision over Antoine O’Griofa.
Offaly bantam Sarah Haghighat beat Sarah Breslin to secure the second last gold medal on offer and Dublin’s former heavyweight champion Kiril Afanasev outpointed 2019 World Military Games bronze medalist Daniel O’Brien in the 83rd and final contest of the seven-day tournament.
Dom O’Rourke, President of the IABA, hailed the performances of all athletes after five days of competition since last Friday.
Ring Announcer Peter O’Donnell said that the tournament showcased some remarkable boxing.
Irish boxing is proudly sponsored by Liffey Crane.
(Images courtesy of Tara Mari and Paddy Gallagher)
Images
Jude Gallagher, Brandon McCarthy, Daina Moorehouse, Evelyn Igharo, Dean Clancy and Sean Mari
Liffey Crane Hire National Elite Championships National Stadium Dublin
November 22
Finals (5.45pm)
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan) W/O
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea) W/O
81+kg Naoise Finney (Ballybrack) W/O
49kg Sean Mari (Monkstown D) beat Ricky Nesbitt (Holy Family Drogheda) 3-2
64kg Evelyn Igharo (Clann Naofa) beat Ciara Ginty (Geesala) 3-2
81kg Nell Fox (Rathkeale) beat Leona Houlihan (Crumlin) 5-0
60kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michaels Athy) beat Barry McReynolds (Holy Trinity) 5-0
48kg Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry) beat Shannon Sweeney (St Annes) 5-0
75kg Jason Harty (Rathkeale) beat John Joe Nevin (Crumlin) 4-1
81kg Emmett Brennan (Docklands) beat Thomas O’Toole (Celtic Eagles) 3-2
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown A) beat Emma Agnew (Dealgan) RSC2
51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan) beat Niamh Early (Ryston) 5-0
52kg Jude Gallagher (Two Castles) beat Regan Buckley (St Teresa’s) 5-0
57kg Dean Clancy (Sean McDermott) beat Patryk Adamus (Drimnagh) 4-1
69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) beat Callum Walsh (Riverstown) 5-0
69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgans) beat Grainne Walsh (Spartacus) 4-1
63kg George Bates (St Mary’s Dublin) beat Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise) 4-1
91+kg Kenneth Okungbowa (Athlone) beat Antoine O’Griofa (Celtic Eagles/Defence Forces) 4-1
54kg Sarah Haghighat (St Brigids, Edenderry) beat Zara Breslin (Tramore) 5-0
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield) beat Daniel O’Brien (Defence Forces) 5-0
Ringside Announcer: Peter O’Donnell
Tournament Inspector: Stephen Connolly
Computer Operator: Tara Mari
Chief Whip: Paddy Osborne
Glove Stewards: Philip Roche & Tommy Fitzsimons
Record Books: Anna Moore & Maura Campbell
Ringside Doctor: Dr Julian Dalby
Referee/Judges from the 6 Units.
November 20
S/Finals
48kg Shannon Sweeney (St Annes) beat Chloe Fleck (Lisburn) 5-0
48kg Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry) beat Ciara Walsh (Smithfield) 5-0
51kg Niamh Earley (Ryston) W/O
51kg Ceire Smith (Cavan) beat Nycole Hayes (Togher) 5-0
54kg Sarah Haghighat (St Brigids, Edenderry) beat Shauna Blaney (Navan) 5-0
57kg Emma Agnew (Dealgan) W/O
64kg Evelyn Igharo (Clann Naofa) beat Gillian Duffy (St Marys Tallaght) RSC1
64kg Ciara Ginty (Geesala) beat Clodagh Greene (Crumlin) 5-0
69kg Grainne Walsh (Spartacus) W/O
81kg Leona Houlihan (Crumlin) W/O
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield) beat Patrick Corcoran (Olympic Galway) AB2
91kg Daniel O’Brien (Defence Forces) W/O
91+kg Antoine Griffin (Celtic Eagles & DF) beat Gytis Lisinskas (Celtic Eagles) 4-1
91+kg Kenneth Okungbowa (Athlone) beat Thomas Carthy (Crumlin) 4-1
November 18
Q/Final
51kg Niamh Earley (Ryston) beat Caitlin Fryers (Immaculata) 5-0
S/Finals
49kg Sean Mari (Monkstown D) beat Diarmuid Toland (Holy Family GG) 4-1
52kg Jude Gallagher (Two Castles) beat Adam Hession (Monivea) 5-0
52kg Regan Buckley (St Theresa’s) beat Jack O’Neill (Corpus Christi) 5-0
57kg Patryk Adamus (Drimnagh) beat Thomas Casey (St Francis) 4-1
57kg Dean Clancy (Sean McDermott) beat Sean Purcell (Enniskerry) 3-2
60kg Barry McReynolds (Holy Trinity) beat Myles Casey (St Francis) 3-2
60kg Brandon McCarthy (St Michaels Athy) beat Peter Alexandrut (Crumlin) 5-0
63kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise) beat Michael Avetisian (Mulhuddart) 3-2
63kg George Bates (St Mary’s Tallaght) beat Gerard Matthews (St Pauls Antrim) 5-0
69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) beat Ryan O’Rourke (St Michaels Dublin) 5-0
69kg Callum Walsh (Riverstown) beat Eugene McKeever (Holy Family Drogheda) KO2
75kg Jason Harty (Rathkeale) beat Jack Brady (Crumlin) 5-0
75kg John Joe Nevin (Crumlin) beat Fearghus Quinn (Camlough) 4-1
81kg Thomas O’Toole (Celtic Eagles) beat Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dublin) 4-0
81kg E Brennan (Dublin Docklands) beat P McCullagh (St John Bosco Belfast) 4-0
November 16
Q/Finals
48kg Shannon Sweeney (St Annes) beat Carol Coughlan (Monkstown D) 4-1
48kg Ciara Walsh (Smithfield) beat Courtney Daly (Crumlin) 5-0
57kg Patryk Adamus (Drimnagh) beat Christian Cekiso (Portlaoise) 3-2
57kg Thomas Casey (St Francis) beat Connor Kerr (Monkstown Antrim) 5-0
57kg Sean Purcell (Enniskerry) beat Kane Marshall (Emerald Antrim) 5-0
57kg Dean Clancy (Sean McDermott) beat JP Hale (Star) 5-0
69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) beat Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) 4-1
69kg Ryan O’Rourke (St Michaels Dublin) beat Michael Kinsella (St Anthonys/Pats) 3-2
69kg Callum Walsh (Riverstown) beat Luke Maguire (Esker) 3-2
69kg Eugene McKeever (Holy Family Drogheda) beat Michael Bustard (Dockers) 5-0
81kg Thomas O’Toole (Celtic Eagles) beat Brian Kennedy (St Marys & DF) 4-1
81kg Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dublin) beat Peter Nosic (Brian Dillons) 5-0
81kg Paul McCullagh (St John Bosco Belfast) beat Tommy Hyde (St Michaels Athy) 4-1
81kg Emmett Brennan (Dublin Docklands) W/O
91+kg Gytis Lisinskas (Celtic Eagles) beat Martin Keenan (Rathkeale) 4-0
91+kg Antoine Griffin (Celtic Eagles & DF) beat Martin Mongan (Corpus Christi) 5-0
91+kg Thomas Carthy (Crumlin) beat Stephen McMonagle (Holy Trinity) 5-0
91+kg Kenneth Okungbowa (Athlone) beat Ciaran Griffin (Celtic Eagles) 5-0
November 15
Prelims
57kg Christian Cekiso (Portlaoise) best Colm Murphy (St Georges) 5-0
69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) beat Terry McEntee (DCU) 4-1
69kg Michael Bustard (Dockers) beat Fergal Redmond (Arklow) 5-0
81kg Brian Kennedy (St Marys & DF) beat Michael Frane (Clonard Wexford) 5-0
81kg Paul McCullagh (St John Bosco Belfast) beat Sean Crowley (Arklow) 4-1
81kg Kane Tucker (Emerald Antrim) beat David Biscevis (St Saviours OBA) 5-0
91+kg Gytis Lisinskas (Celtic Eagles) beat John McDonnell (Crumlin) 5-0
Q/Finals
52kg Jude Gallagher (Two Castles) beat Sean Kavanagh (Monkstown Dublin) 5-0
60kg Barry McReynolds (Holy Trinity) beat Killian Geraghty (Crumlin) 5-0
63kg Michael Avetisian (Mulhuddart) beat Kenneth Doyle (Monkstown Dublin) 4-1
63kg Gerard Matthews (St Pauls Antrim) beat Craig Kavanagh (Crumlin) 4-1
63kg George Bates (St Mary’s Tallaght) beat Yannick Meseke (Olympic Galway) 5-0
75kg Jack Brady (Crumlin) beat Glory Carlos Lmuala (Maynooth) 4-1
75kg John Joe Nevin (Crumlin) beat Keelyn Cassidy (Saviours Crystal) 3-2
91kg Patrick Corcoran (Olympic Galway) beat Jack Clarke (Crumlin) 4-1