THE FINAL STEP
The semi-finals of the Irish Elite championships are completed in Dublin
THE semi-finals of the Irish Elite championships were completed at the National Stadium in Dublin on February 11.
Ireland’s Olympians Darren O’neill, Joe Ward and Brendan Irvine all booked their place in the February 17 finals. London 2012 veteran O’neill unanimously outscored Crumlin’s John Joe Mcdonagh. He’ll meet Kenneth Okungbowa in the 91kgs final after the Athlone man defeated Rathkeale’s Cormac Long, also on a unanimous points margin.
“Credit to my opponent John Joe Mcdonagh who made it a tough contest. Delighted to be through for my 11th national senior final next Friday night. Big thanks to Paulstown Boxing club for continued support and coaching,” O’neill said. “Finally, congratulations to my clubmate Amanda Coughlan who entered her first Elite championship tonight against the reigning champion and performed brilliantly.” Moira Mcelligott, of St Michaels Athy, took a unanimous points victory over Coughlan.
Light-heavyweight Joe Ward
‘IN THE FINAL I WILL GIVE IT ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING’
entered the tournament to outpoint St. Mary’s Michael Frayne. He’ll meet Anthony Browne in the final next week. Another 2016 Olympian, flyweight Brendan Irvine was a unanimous victor over TJ Waite. He’ll meet Thomas Mccarthy in the 52kgs final after the latter edged out Adam Courtney, St. Mary’s Dublin, on a split decision. “It’s a dream come true,” said Mccarthy. “I’ve been dreaming of reaching an Elite final since I started boxing and I’ll meet an Olympian in the final. I will give it absolutely everything.”
Clonmel lightweight Shauna O’keeffe beat Amy Broadhurst,
boxing for Dealgan, unanimously in their semi-final. Kellie Harrington, a World silver medallist at light-welter, has moved down to the Olympic weight, 60kgs and awaits O’keeffe in the final. SEMI-FINALS RESULTS
48: KRISTINA O’HARA (St John Bosco) outpd Carol Coughlan (Monkstown) 5-0. 49: BLAINE DOBBINS (St Josephs Derry) outpd Connor Jordan (St Aidans) 3-2. 52: THOMAS MCCARTHY (Mayfield) outpd Adam Courtney (St Marys Dublin) 3-2, BRENDAN IRVINE (St Pauls Antrim) outpd TJ Waite (Ormeau Road) 5-0. 56: STEPHEN MCKENNA (Old School) outpd Myles Casey (St Francis) 3-2, KURT WALKER (Canal) outpd Evan Metcalfe (Crumlin) 5-0. 57: DERVLA DUFFY (Mulhuddart) outpd Tiegan Russell (Fr Horgans) 4-1, MOIRA MCELLIGOTT (St Michaels Athy) outpd Amanda Coughlan (Paulstown) 5-0. 60: SHAUNA O’KEEFFE (Clonmel) outpd Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan) 5-0, PATRICK MONGAN (Olympic) outpd Gerard Matthews (St Pauls Antrim) 4-1, GEORGE BATES (St Marys Dublin) outpd Gary Mckenna (Old School) 5-0. 64: CIARA GINTY (Geesala) outpd Cheyanne O’neill (Ahtlone) 4-1, WAYNE KELLY (Ballynacargy) outpd Benaldo Marime (Holy Trinity) 5-0, EMMA AGNEW (Delagan) outpd Sidhbh Greene (St Brigids Eden) 5-0, SEAN MCCOMB (Holy Trinity) outpd Patrick Linehan (St Marys Dublin) 5-0. 69: GRAINNE WALSH (Spartacus) outpd Tina Donnelly (Corinthians) 5-0, BRETT MCGINTY (Oakleaf) outpd Peter Carr (Crumlin) 5-0, DEAN WALSH (St Ibars) outpd Tiernan Bradley (Sacred Heart) 5-0. 75: STEPHEN BROADHURST (Dealgan) outpd Caoimhin Hynes (Holy Trinity) 3-2, EMMETT BRENNAN (Glasnevin) outpd Fearghus Quinn (Camlough) 3-2. 81: ANTHONY BROWNE (St Michaels) outpd Sean Allen (Arklow) 5-0, JOE WARD (Moate) outpd Michael Frayne (St Marys) 4-0. 91: KENNETH OKUNGBOWA (Athlone) outpd Cormac Long (Rathkeale) 5-0, DARREN O’NEILL (Paulstown) outpd John Joe Mcdonagh (Crumlin) 5-0. 91&: THOMAS CARTY (Glasnevin) outpd Bernard O’reilly (Portlaoise) 4-1, MARTIN KEENAN (Rathkeale) outpd Damien Sullivan (Emerald Antrim) 3-2.