Two defending champions crashed out of the National Elite Championships at the first hurdle at Dublin’s National Stadium tonight.
Portlaoise BC pair Wayne Kelly and Michael Nevin, who claimed their first Elite belts last year, exited at the last eight stage to Antrim’s James McGivern and Galway’s Gabriel Dossen in the light-welter and middleweight divisions.
McGivern, a 2018 Commonwealth Senior bronze medallist and 2015 Commonwealth Youth champion, earned a unanimous decision over Kelly and believes he’s on a golden run.
He said: “We knew coming down that Wayne would be a big fight and it was a very tactical fight. I couldn’t afford to daydream or let the concentration slip. I’m hitting a gold run of form now and I’m excited for next week.”
The Ulster stylist agreed that getting a bout under his belt on Friday night heading into this evening’s decider was a factor.
”Defiantly, yes. I haven’t fought in the Stadium in a while, so getting back down and getting used to being back in that ring was handy,” he added.
Kelly admitted he didn’t get out of the blocks fast enough but vowed to return.
“I got a slow start tonight, haven’t fought since November. I came on strong, I felt I did enough. That’s life, I will be back with a bang,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dossen edged Nevin on a 3-2 split after a see-saw 75kg three-rounder. Both young men claimed World Youth gold for Ireland in St Petersburg in 2016.
Dossen’s coach, Mike Mongan, said they were thrilled with the win and hailed the performances of both boxers.
“It was a fantastic bout and it lived up to what it was predicted to be. Gabriel boxed excellent and stuck to the game plan,” said the Olympic BC chief seconds.
Later this evening, Commonwealth Games finalist Aidan Walsh beat former Elite champion Dean Walsh, a nephew of USA head coach Billy Walsh, on a 4-1 split verdict.
Tipperary’s defending super heavy champion Dean Gardiner recorded an inside the distance win over Tommy Sheahan to advance to next weekend’s semi-finals and Paddy Donovan beat Conor Ivors in a Limerick derby.
Galway’s defending welterweight champion Kieran Molloy progressed at the expense of Mayo’s Aaron Daly.
“I felt very comfortable in there and looking forward to the semis where I will put in another big performance towards defending my title,” said the Oughterard BC southpaw.
31 bouts were completed over the first two days of competition this weekend. The tournament resumes next Friday.
Weigh-ins – 8am to 9am and 12pm to 1pm at the National Stadium.
(The running order for the finals on Saturday, February 23 will be confirmed in due course).
(Pictures courtesy of Paddy Gallagher)
2019 National Men’s and Women’s Elite Championships National Stadium Dublin
Februuary 9
Q/Finals (5.30pm)
63kg James McGivern (St Georges) beat Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise) 5-0
63kg Kenneth Doyle (Monkstown Dub) beat Gerard Matthews (St Pauls Antrim) 4-1
63kg Keith Flavin (Paulstown) beat Matthew McCole (Dungloe) 3-2
63kg George Bates (St Marys, Dublin) beat Michael Avetisian (Swords) RSCI3
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) beat Aaron Daly (Castlebar) 5-0
69kg Luke Maguire (Esker) beat Michael McGrane (Crumlin) 5-0
69kg Patrick Donovan (O.L.O.L.) beat Conor Ivors (St Francis) 5-0
69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) beat Dean Walsh (St Ibars/Josephs) 4-1
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Olympic) beat Michael Nevin (Portlaoise) 3-2
75kg Brett McGinty (Oakleaf) beat Kelyn Cassidy (Saviours Crystal) 3-2
75kg Fearghus Quinn (Camlough) beat Gerard French (Emerald Antrim) 5-0
75kg Emmett Brennan (Glasnevin) beat Tony McGlynn (Crumlin) 5-0
91kg Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dub) beat Liam Greene (South Meath) 4-1
91kg Kenneth Okungbowa (Athlone) beat Danny O’Brien (Santry/Defence Forces) 5-0
91kg Karol Dlugosz (Scorpion) beat Geoffrey Kavanagh (St Michaels) 4-1
81kg David Bicevis (St Saviours OBA) beat Robbie Burke (Glasnevin) 3-2
91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) beat Tommy Sheahan (St Michaels Athy) RSC1
91+kg Thomas Carthy (Crumlin) beat Dean Scullion (Loughshore) 5-0
91+kg Gydis Linskyas (Celtic Eagles) beat Antoine Griffin (Celtic Eagles) 3-2
91+kg Martin Keenan (Rathkeale) beat Stephen McMonagle (Holy Trinity) 5-0
Preliminaries (7pm)
57kg Christian Cekiso (Portlaoise) beat Conor Kerr (Monkstown Antrim) 5-0
57kg Tommy Casey (St Francis) beat Adam Courtney (St Mary’s Dublin) 4-0
63kg James McGivern (St Georges) beat Senan Kelly (Crumlin) 5-0
63kg Gerard Matthews (St Pauls Antrim) beat Stephen Lockhart (Baldoyle) 5-0
63kg Kenneth Doyle (Monkstown Dub) beat Craig Kavanagh (Crumlin) 4-1
63kg Matthew McCole (Dungloe) beat Dylan Duffy (Pegasus) 5-0
63kg Michael Avetisian (Swords) beat Terry McEntee (Old School/DCU) 4-1
69kg Aaron Daly (Castlebar) beat Fergal Redmond (Arklow) 5-0
69kg Aidan Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) beat Eugene McKeever (Holy Family Drog) 3-2
91+kg Tommy Sheahan (St Michaels Athy) beat Denis Borskins (Sacred Heart Newry) 5-0
91+kg Stephen McMonagle (Holy Trinity) beat James Clarke (Crumlin) 4-1
Friday February 15
Q/finals & S/Finals (7pm)
Q/Finals
48kg Chloe Fleck (Canal) V Carol Coughlan (Monkstown D)
48kg Ciara Walsh (Smithfield) V Donna Barr (Illies GG)
S/Finals
49kg Sean Mari (Monkstown D) V Rory Baird (Ederney)
52kg Adam Hession (Monivea) V Ricky Nesbitt (Holy Family Drog)
57kg Mary Geraghty (St Anthony’s Dub) V Dearbhla Duffy (Crumlin)
57kg Myles Casey (St Francis) V Christian Cekiso (Portlaoise)
57kg Tommy Casey (St Francis) V Patryk Adamus (Drimnagh)
60kg David Oliver Joyce (Ballymun) V Shane Flavin (Portlaoise)
64kg Shauna O’Callaghan (Clann Naofa) V Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)
69kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgans) V Tina Donnelly (Dublin Docklands)
69kg Gillian Duffy (St Mary’s Dublin) V Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)
Saturday February 16
S/Finals (6pm)
48kg Courtney Daly (Crumlin) V Winner
48kg Winner V Emma Feeney (Virginia)
63kg James McGivern (St Georges) V Kenneth Doyle (Monkstown Dub)
63kg Keith Flavin (Paulstown) V George Bates (St Marys, Dublin)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) V Luke Maguire (Esker)
69kg Patrick Donovan (OLOL) V Aidan Walsh (Monkstown Antrim)
75kg Gabriel Dossen (Olympic) V Brett McGinty (Oakleaf)
75kg Fearghus Quinn (Camlough) V Emmett Brennan (Glasnevin)
81kg Thomas O’Toole (Celtic Eagles) V David Bicevis (St Saviours OBA)
81kg Paul McCullagh (St John Bosco Bel) V Tommy Hyde (Mayfield)
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield) V Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dub)
91kg Kenneth Okungbowa (Athlone) V Karol Dlugosz (Scorpion)
91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) V Thomas Carthy (Crumlin)
91+kg Gydis Linskyas (Celtic Eagles) V Martin Keenan (Rathkeale)
Saturday February 23
Finals
48kg Winner V Winner
49kg Regan Buckley (St Teresa’s) V Winner
51kg Carly McNaul (Holy Family GG) V Niamh Early (Ryston)
52kg Evan Metcalf (Hyland BA) V Winner
54kg Emma Flannery (Baldoyle) W/O
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown Antrim) V Winner
57kg Winner V Winner
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Marys Dublin) W/O
60kg Dominic Bradley (Errigal) V Winner
63kg Winner V Winner
64kg Moira McElligot (St Michaels Athy) V Winner
69kg Winner V Winner
69kg Winner V Winner
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea) V Chayanne O’Neill (Athlone)
75kg Winner V Winner
80kg Leona Houlihan (Crumlin) V Lisa Browne (Aglish)
80+kg Nell Fox (Rathkeale) W/O
81kg Winner V Winner
91kg Winner V Winner
91+kg Winner V Winner