McCarthy boxes his way to way to All-Ireland final

FRESH from his Munster Champions fight last week, Johnathon McCarthy (Tralee BC) headed for the National Stadium last Saturday for his 48kg Youth 1 bout and chomping at the bit to get back into an All-Ireland final.

In the opposite corner was Padraig McCleary of the Ardoyne Belfast and reiging Ulster champion. McCarthy’s speed and foot-work was a joy to watch as he punished his opponent’s misses time and time again, and the Tralee fighter ran out a deserving winner and now joins his twin cousins Mike and Patrick in the All-Irelands on March 24.

Meanwhile, Cashen Vale boxer Aaron McElligott’s dream of national glory were shattered by a dubious 4-1 decision in the quarter-final of the Boy 4 National Championships at the Stadium last Saturday.

McElligott has already put the decision behind him and is looking forward to the Cadet Championships later in the year.

Ryan Downey will box Eoin McGarrell (Raphoe) this Friday in the 52kg quarter-final. Well done to Kerry schoolboy boxing champions Donacha Sayers, Ainle Foley, Kieran Stack and Dan O’Brien who weighed in for the Munster Championship last Sunday in Tralee.

The Boy 1-2-3 Championships starts this Friday in Southside BC in Limerick city and runs over the Bank Holiday weekend.