Kieran Molloy, pictured with Andy Lee, will be aiming to end over half a century of waiting when he meets talented Holy Family BC (Drogheda) welter Eugene McKeever for the vacant Elite welter title at the National Stadium on Saturday night.

The World Junior bronze medallist who boxes out of the Oughterard BC in Galway beat Wexford’s defending champion Dean Walsh in the last-four and is one in away from one of the ultimate belts in Irish boxing.

McKeever scored an impressive win over Tony McGlynn in the semi-finals.

The Oughterard BC, since its foundation 56 years ago, have yet to claim an Elite title, but there have been some near misses.

Thomas Lee and Marvin Lee both lost two finals apiece to Paul Hyland and Ken Egan in 2002 and 2003.

Two Irish Elite Championships – as is the case this year – were run twice in 2003 in the build up to the qualifiers for Athens 2004. Andy Lee was Ireland’s only representative at the 28th Olympiad.

Molloy, meanwhile, said he was thrilled with his semi-final win over four-time Elite champion Walsh, but that the job is not done yet.

 

Please click here for job advertisement in relation to the the IABA High-Performance team in Ulster.

The position is based at the University of Ulster.

The closing date for applications is March 2.

 

 

 

 

 

Brett McGinty reckons you need to be constantly tuned in when you share a ring with Michael Nevin.

The Commonwealth Games Youth finalist meets the Portlaoise BC stylist, a former European Schoolboy, Junior and Youth champion, in an eagerly anticipated  battle for middleweight honours between two of Ireland’s top prospects at the National Elite finals on Saturday night.

Nevin has won two bouts so far on his Elite debut at these Championships, while McGinty, who boxes out of the Oakleaf BC in Derry and who has also on two fights at this year’s Elites, lost the 2017 welter final to Dean Walsh. He’s since moved up to middle.

The Oakleaf BC are also celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2018 and 19-year-old Donegal-born finalist is aiming to become the first boxer from the club to claim an Elite belt in Silver Jubilee year for the top Irish unit.

“You need to be smart with Michael Nevin, McGinty told today’s Irish News.

“If you stand off him, he’ll box the head off you and if you run at him he’ll box the head off you. You need to be composed, use controlled pressure. There’s no point me just running at him because he’ll jab the head off you all night.

“He’s world class, added McGinty who admitted he was weighing up his options in relation to remaining at welter or moving up a notch.

“I could have made it (welter), but you have to think how much of a toll it’s going to take on your body.

“Even in the Ulster seniors, and I’m not making excuses, but I wasn’t at myself. I was beat fair and square on the night but I’ve more gears in me and I didn’t do myself justice.”

Twenty finals will be decided at the the 1st edition of the National Elite Championships of 2018 on Saturday night.

Second editions of the flagship tournament of Irish boxing will be run for women and men in September and November in the build up to the qualifiers for Tokyo 2020.

Tickets for the Liffey Crane Hire Elite finals can be purchased over the phone on 01-4533371 with debit cards. Tickets are priced at €40 Ringside, €30 Angles and €25 Gallery.

2018 National Elite Men’s and Women’s Championships National Stadium Dublin

February 24th

Finals
48kg Shannon Sweeney (St Annes) V Carol Coughlan (Monkstown D)
49kg Ricky Nesbitt (Carrickmacross) V Conor Jordan (St Aidans)
51kg Ceire Smith (Virginia/DCU) V Niamh Early (Ryston)
52kg Conor Quinn (Clonard Antrim) W/O
54kg Lauren Hogan (St Brigids E) V Amanda Loughlin (St Michaels Dub)
56kg Evan Metcalfe (Hyland Academy) V Thomas McCarthy (Setanta)
57kg Dervla Duffy (Mulhuddart) V Michaela Walsh (Monkstown A)
60kg George Bates (St Marys Dublin) v Francis Cleary (Ballina)
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan) V Kellie Harrington (St Marys Dublin)
64kg Joanne Lambe (Carrickmacross) W/O
64kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise) V Caoimhin Ferguson (Clonard A)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) V Eugene McKeever (Holy Family D)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus) V Ciara Ginty (Geesala)
75kg Aoife Burke (St Marys Dublin) V Christina Desmond (Fr Horgans)
75kg Brett McGinty (Oakleaf) V Michael Nevin (Portlaoise)
81kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea) W/O
81kg Brian Kennedy (St Marys Daingean) V Caomhin Hynes (Holy Trinity)
81+kg Lisa Browne (Aglish) V Nell Fox (Rathkeale)
91kg Kevin Sheehy (St Francis) V Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield)
91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) V Martin Keenan (Rathkeale)

Saturday February 17th (7pm)

S/Finals
48kg Shannon Sweeney (St Annes) beat Courtney Daly (Crumlin) 5-0
48kg Carol Coughlan (Monkstown D) beat Megan Doyle (Whitechurch) 3-2
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown A) W/O
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus) beat Ciara Sheedy (Ardnaree) 5-0
69kg Ciara Ginty (Geesala) beat Gillian Duffy (Bray) 4-1
75kg Brett McGinty (Oakleaf) beat Kelyn Cassidy (Savious.Crystal 4-1
75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise) beat Gerard French (Clonard, Antrim) 5-0
81kg Brian Kennedy (St Marys Daingean) beat Karol Blugosz (Scorpion) 4-1
81kg Caomhin Hynes (Holy Trinity) beat Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dub) 3-2
91kg Kevin Sheehy (St Francis) beat Liam Greene (South Meath) 4-1
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield) beat Jason Barron (Holy Trinity) RSC3
91+kg Martin Keenan (Rathkeale) beat John McDonnell (Crumlin) 5-0

U/18 Final
69kg Elice Elliott (South Meath) beat Carol Coughlan (Monkstown D) 4-1

Novice Final
52kg Anita Larkin (Baldoyle) beat Kinga Krzak (Celtic Eagles) RSC3

February 16th (7pm)
Q/Finals
69kg Ciara Sheedy (Ardnaree) beat Connie Vaughan (Duhallow) 4-1
75kg Kelyn Cassidy (Saviours Crystal) beat Peter Carr (Crumlin) 5-0
75kg Brett McGinty (Oakleaf) beat Glory Carlos Imuala (Maynooth) 5-0
75kg Gerard French (Clonard Antrim) beat John Maughan (St Marys Dublin) KO2
75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise) beat David Biscevas (St Saviours OBA) 5-0
81kg Brian Kennedy (St Marys Daingean) beat Robert Burke (Glasnevin) 4-1
81kg Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dub) beat Davit Tsotsoria (Illies GG) 5-0
91kg Kevin Sheehy (St Francis) W/O

S/Finals
57kg Dervla Duffy (Mulhuddart) beat Ashley McCullough (Albert Foundry) RSC2
56kg Evan Metcalfe (Hyland Academy) beat Myles Casey (St Francis) 4-1
56kg Thomas McCarthy (Setanta) beat Christian Cekiso (Portlaoise) 3-2
60kg George Bates (St Marys Dublin) beat Patrick Mongan (Olympic) 4-1
60kg Francis Cleary (Ballina) beat Adam Kelly (Portlaoise) 5-0
64kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise) beat Keith Flavin (Paulstown) 5-0
64kg Caoimhin Ferguson (Clonard A) beat Colm Quinn (Castlebar) 5-0
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) beat Dean Walsh (St Ibars) 3-2
69kg Eugene McKeever (Holy Family D) beat Tony McGlynn (Crumlin) 5-0
91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) beat Patrick Nevin (St Michaels Dub) 5-0

February 9th

Prelims
56kg Evan Metcalfe (Hyland Academy) beat Adam Courtney (St Marys Dublin) 3-0
56kg Thomas McCarthy (Setanta) W/O
56kg Christian Cekiso (Portlaoise) beat Tommy Casey (St Francis) 5-0
60kg Patrick Mongan (Olympic Galway) beat Dillon Duffy (Pegasus) 4-1
60kg George Bates (St Marys Dublin) beat Shane Flavin (Paulstown) 5-0
60kg Francis Cleary (Ballina) beat Sean Duffy (Holy Trinity) 5-0
60kg Adam Kelly (Portlaoise) W/O
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) beat Fergal Redmond (Arklow) 5-0
69kg Eugene McKeever (Holy Family D) beat Michael Hennessy (St Monicas) 5-0
69kg Tony McGlynn (Crumlin) beat David Barrett (Rylane) 4-1
64kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise) beat Matthew McCole (Dungloe) 5-0
91+kg Martin Keenan (Rathkeale) beat Geoffrey Kavanagh (Glasnevin) 4-1
91+kg John McDonnell (Crumlin) beat Antoine Griffin (Celtic Eagles) 4-1
91+kg Patrick Nevin (St Michaels Dub) beat Konstantin Popovcuic (Crumlin) 4-1
91kg+Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) beat Thomas Carthy (Glasnevin) 5-0

 

 

 

Martin Keenan ensured that there will be one male defending champion in next Saturday’s National Elite finals at the National Stadium in Dublin.

The Rathkeale BC super-heavy beat Dubliner John McDonnell on a unanimous decision at the Stadium tonight to set up a Limerick versus Tipperary showdown with Dean Gardiner in a repeat of a box-off for a place on the Irish European team, which Gardiner, an ex Irish Elite champion, won last year.

Former World Junior champion and Olympic Youth finalist Ciara Ginty and current European Union Elite bronze medalist Grainne Walsh will meet for the welterweight title.

Both women won their semi-finals tonight, with Ginty beating Gillian Duffy on a 4-1 split decision and Walsh scoring a unanimous decision over Ciara Sheehy.

European Union Elite champion Michaela Walsh received a walkover and faces Dervla Duffy in the featherweight decider.

Featherweight has been added to the three existing – fly, light and middle – Olympic weights for females for this year’s Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires which suggests that the limit will also be included on the program for Tokyo 2020.

Meanwhile, Laois’ former European Youth champion Michael Nevin and Derry’s ex Commonwealth Games Youth medallist Brett McGinty are through to the middleweight final.

Nevin, who took a standing count in the second round, took all five judges with him in an impressive performance against Gerard French, who scored a spectacular KO of John Maughan on Friday, and McGinty beat Kelyn Cassidy.

 

“I’m delighted with the win and I can’t wait for the final,” said Elite debutant Nevin after his second victory in 24 hours at the home of Irish boxing.

“I got caught with a good shot (standing count) but I recovered very quickly and well and I thought I out boxed him.”

Meantime, Limerick’s Kevin Sheehy progressed to the heavyweight final on a 4-1 verdict over Liam Greene. Irish international Kiril Afanasev won the corresponding last-four bout.

The heavyweight title is vacant this year after London 2012 Olympian Darren O’Neill withdrew with a hand injury.

Sheehy, who boxes out of the St Francis BC, Andy Lee’s former club, has risen from relative obscurity to win an Irish Senior (formerly Intermediate) belt in December and an U/22 title in December and is now aiming for one of the biggest prizes in Irish boxing.

The National Elite finals will decided next Saturday at the National Stadium.

Tickets for the Liffey Crane Hire Elite finals can be purchased over the phone on 01-4533371 with debit cards. Tickets are priced at €40 Ringside, €30 Angles and €25 Gallery.

2018 National Elite Men’s and Women’s Championships National Stadium Dublin

February 24th

Finals

48kg Shannon Sweeney (St Annes) V Carol Coughlan (Monkstown D)
49kg Ricky Nesbitt (Carrickmacross) V Conor Jordan (St Aidans)
51kg Ceire Smith (Virginia/DCU) V Niamh Early (Ryston)
52kg Conor Quinn (Clonard Antrim) W/O
54kg Lauren Hogan (St Brigids E) V Amanda Loughlin (St Michaels Dub)
56kg Evan Metcalfe (Hyland Academy) V Thomas McCarthy (Setanta)
57kg Dervla Duffy (Mulhuddart) V Michaela Walsh (Monkstown A)
60kg George Bates (St Marys Dublin) v Francis Cleary (Ballina)
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan) V Kellie Harrington (St Marys Dublin)
64kg Joanne Lambe (Carrickmacross) W/O
64kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise) V Caoimhin Ferguson (Clonard A)
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) V Eugene McKeever (Holy Family D)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus) V Ciara Ginty (Geesala)
75kg Aoife Burke (St Marys Dublin) V Christina Desmond (Fr Horgans)
75kg Brett McGinty (Oakleaf) V Michael Nevin (Portlaoise)
81kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea) W/O
81kg Brian Kennedy (St Marys Daingean) V Caomhin Hynes (Holy Trinity)
81+kg Lisa Browne (Aglish) V Nell Fox (Rathkeale)
91kg Kevin Sheehy (St Francis) V Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield)
91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) V Martin Keenan (Rathkeale)

Saturday February 17th (7pm)

S/Finals

48kg Shannon Sweeney (St Annes) beat Courtney Daly (Crumlin) 5-0
48kg Carol Coughlan (Monkstown D) beat Megan Doyle (Whitechurch) 3-2
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown A) W/O
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus) beat Ciara Sheedy (Ardnaree) 5-0
69kg Ciara Ginty (Geesala) beat Gillian Duffy (Bray) 4-1
75kg Brett McGinty (Oakleaf) beat Kelyn Cassidy (Savious.Crystal 4-1
75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise) beat Gerard French (Clonard, Antrim) 5-0
81kg Brian Kennedy (St Marys Daingean) beat Karol Blugosz (Scorpion) 4-1
81kg Caomhin Hynes (Holy Trinity) beat Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dub) 3-2
91kg Kevin Sheehy (St Francis) beat Liam Greene (South Meath) 4-1
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield) beat Jason Barron (Holy Trinity) RSC3
91+kg Martin Keenan (Rathkeale) beat John McDonnell (Crumlin) 5-0

U/18 Final
69kg Elice Elliott (South Meath) beat Carol Coughlan (Monkstown D) 4-1

Novice Final
52kg Anita Larkin (Baldoyle) beat Kinga Krzak (Celtic Eagles) RSC3

February 16th (7pm)

Q/Finals

69kg Ciara Sheedy (Ardnaree) beat Connie Vaughan (Duhallow) 4-1
75kg Kelyn Cassidy (Saviours Crystal) beat Peter Carr (Crumlin) 5-0
75kg Brett McGinty (Oakleaf) beat Glory Carlos Imuala (Maynooth) 5-0
75kg Gerard French (Clonard Antrim) beat John Maughan (St Marys Dublin) KO2
75kg Michael Nevin (Portlaoise) beat David Biscevas (St Saviours OBA) 5-0
81kg Brian Kennedy (St Marys Daingean) beat Robert Burke (Glasnevin) 4-1
81kg Anthony Browne (St Michaels Dub) beat Davit Tsotsoria (Illies GG) 5-0
91kg Kevin Sheehy (St Francis) W/O

S/Finals

57kg Dervla Duffy (Mulhuddart) beat Ashley McCullough (Albert Foundry) RSC2
56kg Evan Metcalfe (Hyland Academy) beat Myles Casey (St Francis) 4-1
56kg Thomas McCarthy (Setanta) beat Christian Cekiso (Portlaoise) 3-2
60kg George Bates (St Marys Dublin) beat Patrick Mongan (Olympic) 4-1
60kg Francis Cleary (Ballina) beat Adam Kelly (Portlaoise) 5-0
64kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise) beat Keith Flavin (Paulstown) 5-0
64kg Caoimhin Ferguson (Clonard A) beat Colm Quinn (Castlebar) 5-0
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) beat Dean Walsh (St Ibars) 3-2
69kg Eugene McKeever (Holy Family D) beat Tony McGlynn (Crumlin) 5-0
91+kg Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) beat Patrick Nevin (St Michaels Dub) 5-0

February 9th

Prelims

56kg Evan Metcalfe (Hyland Academy) beat Adam Courtney (St Marys Dublin) 3-0
56kg Thomas McCarthy (Setanta) W/O
56kg Christian Cekiso (Portlaoise) beat Tommy Casey (St Francis) 5-0
60kg Patrick Mongan (Olympic Galway) beat Dillon Duffy (Pegasus) 4-1
60kg George Bates (St Marys Dublin) beat Shane Flavin (Paulstown) 5-0
60kg Francis Cleary (Ballina) beat Sean Duffy (Holy Trinity) 5-0
60kg Adam Kelly (Portlaoise) W/O
69kg Kieran Molloy (Oughterard) beat Fergal Redmond (Arklow) 5-0
69kg Eugene McKeever (Holy Family D) beat Michael Hennessy (St Monicas) 5-0
69kg Tony McGlynn (Crumlin) beat David Barrett (Rylane) 4-1
64kg Wayne Kelly (Portlaoise) beat Matthew McCole (Dungloe) 5-0
91+kg Martin Keenan (Rathkeale) beat Geoffrey Kavanagh (Glasnevin) 4-1
91+kg John McDonnell (Crumlin) beat Antoine Griffin (Celtic Eagles) 4-1
91+kg Patrick Nevin (St Michaels Dub) beat Konstantin Popovcuic (Crumlin) 4-1
91kg+Dean Gardiner (Clonmel) beat Thomas Carthy (Glasnevin) 5-0