Two time Olympian, 57kg Michaela Walsh, has made history at the 2025 National Elite Championship finals. She’s won her 12th Elite title, becoming the only boxer in Ireland ever to do so. She and Kellie Harrington jointly broke the existing record, of 10 titles held by Beijing silver medalist, Kenny Egan, when they won their respective finals at the 2024 Elites. Michaela contested her historic final against Kelsey Leonard (Unit 3, Naas).
Kelyn Cassidy of Waterford’s Saviours Crystal BC, and Paris Olympian Jack Marley of Monkstown Dublin both came home with their fourth Elite titles. Two-Time Olympian and four-time Continental Champion, 75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea), also defended her title. Former Ireland Rugby international, Judy Bobbett (Liberty, Wicklow) has won her 2nd 81+kg Elite title, with a unanimous decision victory over Dearbhla Tinnelly (Clann Naofa, Louth). At superheavy, Galway’s Martin McDonagh retained his title, following a bruising contest against Crumlin, Dublin’s Godstime Ide
Paris Olympian, 66kg Grainne Walsh (St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght), is the walkover champion at the weight – and so, too, at his weight is 2024 European U22 champion, 54kg Patsy Joyce (Olympic, Mullingar) and Gavin Rafferty (Dublin Docklands) at 75kg.
There were a significant number of 1st time Elite champions, including, at 48kg Ciara Walsh (Smithfield, Dublin ) 48kg Louis Rooney (Star BC, Belfast), 51kg Clepson de Santos (Holy Trinity, Belfast) and 52kg Amber Byrne (Arklow, Wicklow). The “Kellie” hold over the lightweight title continued, as the two-time Olympic champion’s namesake, Kellie McLoughlin of St. Catherine’s BC, Dublin was the 5-0 victor over Zara Breslin (Tramore).
The best female boxer of the championship was awarded to 60kg Kellie McLoughlin (St. Catherine’s, Dublin); while the best male boxer of the tournament was awarded to 92kg Jack Marley (Monkstown, Dublin)
Congratulations to each and every finalist, their clubs, and families.
Results
48kg Ciara Walsh (Smithfield, Dublin ) beat Courtney Daly (Crumlin, Dublin), 4-1
48kg Louis Rooney (Star BC, Belfast) beat Paudraig Downey (St John Bosco Antrim), 5-0
50kg Shannon Sweeney (St Anne’s, Mayo) beat Caitlin Fryers (Immaculata), 5-0
51kg Clepson de Santos (Holy Trinity) beat Ricky Nesbitt (Holy Family L), 4-0
52kg Amber Byrne (Arklow) beat Shauna Blaney (Navan), 5-0
54kg Chloe Gabriel (Dublin Docklands) beat Robyn Kelly (Ballynacargy), 5-0
54kg Patsy Joyce (Olympic L), W/O
57kg Michaela Walsh (Holy Family GG) beat Kelsey Leonard (Unit 3), 5-0
57kg Gavin Ryan (Ratoath) beat Donagh Keary (Rathfriland), 5-0
60kg Kellie McLoughlin (St Catherines) beat Zara Breslin (Tramore), 5-0
60kg Rhys Owens (Erne) beat Adam Hession (Monivea), 5-0
63kg Linda Desmond (Rylane) beat Zoe McCaughran (Evolution), RSC1
63.5kg Jason Nevin (Olympic Mullingar) beat Roy Colgan (Avona), 3-2
66kg Grainne Walsh (St Mary’s D) W/O
67kg Darren O’Connor (Olympic C) beat Malo Davis (Monkstown D), 5-0
70kg Lisa O’Rourke (Castlerea) beat Tiffany O’Reilly (Portlaoise), 5-0
71kg Jon McConnell (Holy Trinity) beat Wayne Kelly (Ballynacargy), 3-2
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea) beat Bethany Doocey (Castlebar), 5-0
75kg Gavin Rafferty (Dublin Docklands) W/O
80kg Kelyn Cassidy (Savours Crystal) beat James Whelan (Dublin Docklands), 5-0
81kg Mikayla Kelly (Sacred Heart L) beat Shauna Kearney (Bunclody), 3-2
81+kg Judy Bobbett (Liberty) beat Dearbhla Tinnelly (Clann Naofa), 5-0
86kg Brian Kennedy (St Brigid’s Edenderry) beat Ryan Collins Murphy (St Monicas), 4-1
92kg Jack Marley (Monkstown D) beat Nathan Ojo (Esker), 5-0
92+kg Martin McDonagh (Galway) beat Godstime Ide (Crumlin), 3-0
IABA’s Central Council has bestowed two Lifetime Services to Boxing awards during tonight’s 2025 Elite Championship Finals.
Central Council is honouring Mick Darby and Jimmy Halpin for their considerable contributions to the sport of boxing, and the boxing community.
Mick Darby
Mick Darby has been a member of St. Brigid’s Boxing Club, Edenderry, for a staggering 68 years, having joined in 1956.
Mick served in the Defence Forces, and is a qualified Referee and Judge through IABA and the Defence Forces.
He was a pivotal assistant to IABA’s longest-serving National Secretary, Sean Crowley, over a period of 20 years, which included the inception of the IABA High Performance Unit. Mick was also Secretary of Leinster Provincial Council for a decade, from 1997.
In 2012, Mick founded the Leinster Development Squad, a cornerstone of the growth and progression of boxing in the region. Since then, over 500 Leinster boxers have participated in training camps or competitions in countries including Latvia, England, Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Maldova.
Mick has also, himself, represented Ireland as Team Manager at numerous benchmark tournaments, including European Junior Championships.
Mick was inducted in to the IABA Hall of Fame in 2012.
Jimmy Halpin
Jimmy Halpin was a formidable boxer, before transferring his considerable skills to coaching.
At Senior level, he contested against 1980 Olympian PJ Davitt & European silver medalist Mick Holmes.
Jimmy spent a formative part of his coaching career at St Saviours Olympic BC, where he coached boxers including Atlanta 1996 Olympian, Cathal O’Grady, Beijing Olympic bronze medalist, Darren Sutherland, and national champions including Dennis Galvin and Steve Collins, and boxers including Katie Taylor, John Joe Nevin, Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlan, Kenneth Egan, Emmett Brennan and two time Olympic champion, Kellie Harrington.
Jimmy was an integral part of the early phase High Performace Unit, contributing significantly to the Beiking 2008 and London 2012 campaigns and has coached for Team Ireland at international tournaments including Europeans, Worlds, dual nations and multinations for a period of over 30 years. Jimmy has also coached at clubs including Corinthians, Glasnevin, Dublin Docklands and St. Catherine’s.
