National title for golden girl Daina
Bridget wins a silver medal
ALL-IRELAND gold medals are a bit like buses for Enniskerry Boxing Club, you wait an age for one and then two come together.
After Cole Byrne won the club’s first All-Ireland gold medal last month the club were delighted to follow up with a gold for the girls at the weekend.
Daina Moorehouse had won all before her in the past two years, including two national Cadet titles but that All-Ireland gold had eluded her up to this point.
It made her victory over the Munster champion Danielle O’Neill of Sliabh Luachra from the kingdom of Kerry all the sweeter. Again the club hired a bus to take clubmates, family and friends into the National Stadium to support Daina and Bridget Cash in their respective finals.
Daina got the day off to a blistering start when she overpowered her opponent in the opening minutes. She caught O’Neill with a flurry of combinations which lead to the referee issuing a standing count to the Sliabh Luacra girl and shortly after the fight finished by TKO in the first round.
In Daina’s corner, Paul O’Toole and Eve Carr were delighted to see all Daina’s hard work and perseverance pay off. As Paul said: ‘Daina is an example to all our members, titles don’t come easy and the hard part is picking yourself up after a defeat and getting out training every day to prove you can do it.’
The club had little chance to celebrate as Bridget Cash was next up against the Junior 1 Connacht champion Alanna Nolan of Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo. In what turned out to be one of the most exciting contests of the day and a real crowd pleaser, Bridget and Alanna went toe to toe over three rounds in a battle royal.
Both girls left nothing behind by the end of the contest. In a bout that really could have gone either way Alanna took the contest on a split decision.
The club were immensely proud of Bridget and an All-Ireland silver medal is a great reward for the Loreto Bray student.
To cap off a busy weekend for the club, Cole Byrne, All-Ireland champion, was recognised for his outstanding sporting achievements at a civic reception held at Wicklow County Council Offices on Monday evening with his family, coaches and teachers all in attendance.