Joe Ward
World Elite silver medallist Joe Ward has his eye on a fifth Irish 81kg title at the National Elite Men’s and Women’s Championships at Dublin’s National Stadium, a venue he describes as a special place.
The Rio Olympian and current European champion meets experienced light-heavy Michael Frayne in the last-four on Friday and is eagerly looking forward to competing at the flagship tournament of Irish boxing for the first time since 2014.
Ward’s fellow Olympians Brendan Irvine and Darren O’Neill are also between the ropes on Friday’s 14-bout card on the penultimate weekend of the National Elites.
Ward and David Oliver Joyce inked contracts with AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) – which temporarily embargoed its boxers for National Championships – in 2014.
“It seems a long time ago since last won my senior title in 2014, I should be going for my 7th but due to APB I couldn’t enter the last two years,” said 23-year-old Ward, who claimed World Elite bronze and silver in 2013 and 2015 and who will, if selected, be defending his European title in the Ukraine this summer.
The Moate BC southpaw, the only Irish boxer besides Katie Taylor to win more than one European Elite gold medal, has a close bond to the first purpose built boxing venue in the world.
“The National Stadium is where it all began for me and it’s a special place. It’s the venue that shaped me,” said the only international boxer to win AIBA World Junior, Youth and Elite medals as a teenager.
Friday’s weigh-ins will be held between 8am and 9am and 12pm and 1pm at the National Stadium.
Admission Prices
February 10th/11th – Adults: €20 and €5 for children (U/14)
Finals: Friday, February 17th
Ringside: €40
Angles: €30
Gallery: €25
Gallery: €10 for children (U/14)
National Elite Championships National Stadium Dublin
February 10th
S/Finals (7pm)
48kg Carol Coughlan (Monkstown D) V Kristina O’Hara (St John Bosco A)
49kg Blaine Dobbins (St Josephs Derry) V Connor Jordan (St Aidans)
52kg Brendan Irvine (St Pauls Antrim) V TJ Waite (Ormeau Road)
57kg Dervla Duffy (Mulhuddart) V Tiegan Russell (Fr Horgans)
57kg Amanda Coughlan (Paulstown) V Moira McElligot (St Michaels Athy)
56kg Kurt Walker (Canal) V Evan Metcalfe (Crumlin)
60kg George Bates (St Marys Dublin) V Gary McKenna (Old School)
64kg Sidhbh Greene (St Brigids Eden) V Emma Agnew (Delagan)
64kg Sean McComb (Holy Trinity) V Patrick Linehan (St Marys Dublin)
69kg Dean Walsh (St Ibars) V Tiernan Bradley (Sacred Heart O)
75kg Emmett Brennan (Glasnevin) V Fearghus Quinn (Camlough)
81kg Joe Ward (Moate) V Michael Frayne (St Marys)
91kg Darren O’Neill (Paulstown) V John Joe McDonagh (Crumlin)
91+kg Damien Sullivan (Emerald Antrim) V Martin Keenan (Rathkeale)
February 11th
S/Finals (7pm)
52kg Thomas McCarthy (Mayfield) V Adam Courtney (St Marys Dublin)
56kg Myles Casey (St Francis) V Stephen McKenna (Old School)
60kg Shauna O’Keeffe (Clonmel) V Amy Broadhurst (Delgean)
60kg Gerard Matthews (St Pauls Antrim) V Patrick Mongan (Olympic)
64kg Cheyanne O’Neill (Ahtlone) V Ciara Ginty (Geesala)
64kg Benaldo Marime (Holy Trinity) V Wayne Kelly (Ballynacargy)
69kg Tina Donnelly (Corinthians) V Grainne Walsh (Spartacus)
69kg Peter Carr (Crumlin) V Brett McGinty (Oakleaf)
75kg Stephen Broadhurst (Delagan) V Caoimhin Hynes (Holy Trinity)
81kg Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dub) V Sean Allen (Arlow)
91kg Cormac Long (Rathkeale) V Kenneth Okungbowa (Athlone)
91+kg Bernard O’Reilly (Portlaoise) v Thomas Carty (Glasnevin)
February 17th
Finals (7:30pm)
48kg Shannon Sweeney (St Annes) V Winner
49kg Darryl Moran (Illies GG) V Winner
51kg Carly McNaul (Ormeau Road) W/O
52kg Winner V Winner
54kg Terry Mullarney (Ballyhaunis) W/O
57kg Winner V Winner~
56kg Winner V Winner
60kg Kelly Harrington (Glasnevin) V Winner
60kg Winner V Winner
64kg Winner V Winne
64kg Winner V Winner
69kg Gillian Duffy (Bray) V Winner
69kg Winner V Winner
75kg Christina Desmond (Fr Horgans) W/O
75kg Winner V Winner
81kg Caroline Connolly (Mourne GG) V Leona Houlihan (Crumlin)
81kg Winner V Winner
81+kg Maeve McCarron (Carrigart) W/O
91kg Winner V Winner
91+kg Winner V Winner
February 4th
Q/Finals
60kg Gary McKenna (Old School) beat Alan O’Connor (Bawnogue) 5-0
64kg Patrick Linehan (St Marys Dublin) beat Colm Quinn (Castlebar) 4-1
69kg Dean Walsh (St Ibars) beat Mark McCole (Dungloe) 5-0
69kg Tiernan Bradley (Sacred Heart O) beat Gerard French (Clonard U) 4-1
69kg Peter Carr (Crumlin) beat Nathan Watson (Saints) 5-0
69kg Brett McGinty (Oakleaf) beat Ross Boyle (Mourne GG) 3-2
91+kg Martin Keenan (Rathkeale) beat Patrick Nevin (St Michaels Dublin) 5-0
91+kg Bernard O’Reilly (Portlaoise) beat James Clarke (Kilnamanagh) 5-0
91+kg Thomas Carty (Glasnevin) beat John McDonnell (Crumlin) 4-1
Q/Finals: February 3rd
52kg TJ Waite (Ormeau Road) beat Tommy Casey (St Francis) 5-0
56kg Evan Metcalfe (Crumlin) beat Frankie Cleary (Ballina) 5-0
56kg Myles Casey (St Francis) beat Eamon McNally (St Michaels Antrim) 5-0
69kg Mark McCole (Dungloe) beat Fergal Redmond (Arklow) 5-0
75kg Emmett Brennan (Glasnevin) beat John Joyce (St Michaels Athy) 5-0
75kg Fearghus Quinn (Camlough) beat Glory Carlos Lumuala (Maynooth) 5-0
75kg Stephen Broadhurst (Delagan) beat David Bicevas (St Saviours OBA) 5-0
75kg Caoimhin Hynes (Holy Trinity) beat Conor Doherty (Emerald Antrim) 5-0
81kg Michael Frayne (St Marys Dublin) beat Robert Burke (Glasnevin) 5-0
81kg Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dub) beat Sean Conroy (Ballina) 3-2
91kg John Joe McDonagh (Crumlin) beat Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield) 3-2
91kg Cormac Long (Rathkeale) beat Geoffrey Kavanagh (Glasnevin) 4-1