Crowley scores huge Leinster boxing upset!
ARKLOW BOXING CLUB’S Sean Crowley scored one of the biggest upsets in Leinster boxing history when he defeated four-time Irish champion Gavin Rafferty from the St Cinnians Club in Duleek at the finals in Athy over the weekend.
Both boxers, who are in fact good friends, put their friendship aside as they started which turned out to be the best contest of the championship.
The first round was even, but in the second round Sean took control and landed with solid right hands and visibly shook Gavin and gave Sean a commanding lead going into the third.
Again, Sean scored with good left and right combinations against Gavin who was stationary and could not match Crowley’s speed and the Arklow man was the clear winner. In his semi-final bout, Sean completely outboxed Conor McCarthy of Clane to win 5-0.
Matthew Tyndall, who is Arklow’s four-time Irish champion beat Athy’s Michael O’Reilly on a unanimous decision in his final.
This was a scrappy affair as O’Reilly was constantly holding and was warned on several occasions.
In his sem-final, Matthew beat Darragh Gilroy from Ballymore.
This was a cracking bout as Gilroy is one of Ballymore’s top boxers.
Matthew scored with some tremendous right hooks, but the Ballymore boxer kept coming forward to try and cut the deficit. Matthew won on a 5 to 0 decision.
Daniel Feokrytova became Arklow’s third Leinster champion when he outpointed Jack McGee frome Clane. Daniel is one of the club’s very skilful boxers and in the second round dropped the Clane boxer with a solid right to the chin.
In his semi-final, Daniel defeated Christopher Wykes O’Hanlon, again using his slick footwork and fast hands to pick off the Meath boxer.
Daniel along with Matthew and Sean will now take part in the national championships in the National Stadium in three weeks.
Daniel Fox gave Arklow their first win of the Leinster Championships when he outclassed Tom Hopkins from St Conlets, Meath.
Daniel’s sharp counter punching was the telling factor. Daniel lost to Irish champion Rocky McDonagh from Spartacus in the semi-final in a close decision; the champion being the stronger boxer on the night.
Eimhin McCormack had a hard battle with Shane O’Brien from Raging Bull before losing on points.
Owen Moore seemed to have outscored Daniel Keogh from Liberty, catching Keogh with solid rights, but the judges were spilt in favour of the Liberty boxer.
Jason Breen had a cracking bout with Sam Murphy who was Leinster champion four times. This was a close fought bout but Murphy just earned the decision
On March 3 it will be th e turn of the club’s younger boxers to compete in the Leinsters in Newbridge.
The club are hopeful that some of the 10 boxers will come through. The Arklow team is: Luke Mulhall, Lukas Godkin, Ross Farrell, Darragh O’Connor, Josh Browne, Sean Tyndall, Philip Feokrytova, Michael Moorehouse, Sean Fleming and Damien Aigbiloga
The girls from the Arklow club will be in action in April when Tegan Farrell, Amber Byrne and Niamh Molloy will contest their Leinsters.