Clann Naofa duo secure places on Irish squad

BOXING

CLANN NAOFA boxers Evelyn Igharo and Shauna O’Callaghan struck gold at the IABA National Stadium last weekend as the IABA started the selection process for the forthcoming European Youth and Junior Championships in Poland in June.

Competition for the honour of representing Ireland was fierce as the majority of the competitors were Irish or provincial champions.

In the Junior section Clann Naofa was represented by 63 kilo boxer Evelyn Igharo whose opponent was the Leinster Champion Denise Campion from the Marble City Boxing Club, KIlkenny.

Evelyn, a seven times Irish champion took no chances and from the opening bell of round one she set about dismantling the Kilkenny boxer with lethal, accurate left jabs setting up her trademark punch where she spun and delivered her right hand with such precision that the referee stepped in immediately to give the Kilkenny boxer a standing eight count.

On the referee’s command to continue boxing Evelyn sensed victory and overwhelmed Campion with a combination of punches forcing the referee to call an immediate halt to the contest declaring Evelyn the winner by TKO in the first round.

In the youth section Clann Naofa’s fifty seven kilo boxer, the European silver medalist and seven times Irish champion, Shauna O’Callaghan faced eight times Irish champion Labhaoise Clarke from Cardonagh in Co. Donegal.

This was without doubt the contest of the tournament as both of these boxers hold fierce reputations as being big hitters.

From the opening bell both boxers went at it with Shauna delivering her ramrod straight jab, then following up with an attack to the body.

The contest was held over three by three-minute rounds and both girls felt the pain of each extra minute as they fought at a very exhausting pace. At the end of a very tough contest the Clann Naofa boxer was declared the winner by a five to nil shut out thus booking her place along with her colleague Evelyn Igharo to represent her country at the European Boxing Championships.

On the same weekend the Leinster Boy 2 Boxing Championship were held in Newbridge, Co.Kildare. Clann Naofa boxer Tiernan Cassidy won the Leinster Boy 2 fifty kilo championship by beating Jack Mc Donagh from Paulstown Boxing Club, Newbridge.

After a shaky start Tiernan settled down to perform a masterclass of boxing running out a 5-nil winner.