Joe Ward has his hand raised in victory last night

Joe Ward helped the British Lionhearts put the Croatian Knights to the sword in Newcastle last night.

The current European Elite champion and two-time World Elite finalist recorded an emphatic unanimous decision over Damir Plantic in Gateshead.

The final scores for the Westmeath southpaw read 50-45 across the board after five, three-minute rounds, the Moate BC lefty helping the hosts to a shutout 5-0 win.

The victory, which sees the Lionhearts bounce back from their loss to the French Fighting Roosters in Paris in their opening group match, is his sixth in the WSB as he recorded five wins from six outings for the Lionhearts in the 2013 WSB season.

“Job done, move on to the next one,” said the European No. 1 and World No. 4 ranked light-heavy via social media.

“It’s all about building towards where I want to be and what I want to achieve, but I’m grateful for this opportunity. I want to thank the people that helped me over the last few weeks and also years.”

Belfast lightweight Sean Duffy is also signed with the Lionhearts.

The Holy Trinity BC man is expected to box against Italia Thunder in Liverpool in early March.

Joe Ward with his WSB team-mates

All athletes weighed-in this morning and early afternoon ahead of tonight’s quarter and semi-finals at the National Elite Championships.

Boxing begins at 7pm this evening at the National Stadium.

The final session of semi-finals will be decided tomorrow to determine the line ups for the finals on February 23

Saturday’s weigh-in times – 8am to 9am and 12pm to 1pm at the National Stadium.

Tickets prices for this’s weekend’s – Friday and Saturday – quarter-finals and semi-finals are €15 for adults and €5 for children (U/15). Admission is payable at the door on Friday and Saturday evening.

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 National Elite Championships National Stadium Dublin

Friday February 16th (7pm)

Q/Finals

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

S/Finals

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

Saturday February 17th (7pm)

S/Finals

48kg Courtney Daly (Crumlin) V Shannon Sweeney (St Annes)
48kg Megan Doyle (Whitechurch) V Carol Coughlan (Monkstown D)
57kg Tiegan Russell (Fr Horgans) V Michaela Walsh (Mokstown A)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Sparticus) V Winner
69kg Gillian Duffy (Bray) V Ciara Ginty (Geesala)
75kg Winner V Winner
75kg Winner V Winner
81kg Karol Blugosz (Scorpion) V Winner
81kg Winner V Caomhin Hynes (Holy Trinity)
91kg Liam Greene (South Meath) V Winner
91kg Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield) V Jason Barron (Holy Trinity)
91+kg Martin Keenan (Rathkeale) V John McDonnell (Crumlin)

U/18 Final

69kg Nadine Dermody (Raging Bull) V Elice Elliott (South Meath)

Novice Final

52kg Anita Larkin (Baldoyle) V Kinga Krzak (Celtic Eagles)

February 24th

Finals

48kg Winner V Winner
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 Winner V Winner
57kg Winner V Winner
60kg Winner V Winner
60kg Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan) V Kellie Harrington (St Marys Dublin)
64kg Joanne Lambe (Carrickmacross) W/O
64kg Winner V Winner
69kg Winner V Winner
69kg Winner V Winner
75kg Aoife Burke (St Marys Dublin) V Christina Desmond (Fr Horgans)
75kg Winner V Winner
81kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea) W/O
81kg Winner V Winner
81+kg Lisa Browne (Aglish) V Nell Fox (Rathkeale)
91kg Winner V Winner
91+kg Winner V Winner

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