Munster’s hopes of making the light flyweight final were dashed when Garry Molly produced a controlled performance against Stephen Farrell
THE ST ANNE’S club in Mayo is guaranteed at least one title from the 2008 National Youth Championships after club-mates Ray Moylett and Martin McDonagh both advanced to the 60kg decider, following semi-finals wins at the National Stadium in Dublin last weekend.
The championships recommenced with two semi-final sessions at the South Circular Road venue on Saturday afternoon and evening. Dublin light fly-weight Declan Geraghty cruised through the first of this evening’s final four clashes, outpointing David Francis Nevin, while the all-Dublin derby between Anthony O’Brien and Mike Stevens – a fine contest from the opening bell on – went the way of Stevens, who bounced back in style after losing the opening two rounds.
Bantamweights Bernard McDonagh and Martin Fraiser exploded into life in the final round, McDonagh maintaining his composure to ensure that Munster would have at least one boxer in next weekend’s finals.
Meanwhile, the all-Belfast and- all-Dublin semi-finals saw Tyrone McKenna and Jamie Kavanagh emerge victorious at the expense of Paul Hyland and Dean Evans.
Cork welterweight Rory O’Donoghue was four points up at the end of the second, but Christy Boyle came storming back to take a one point lead at the end of the fourth en route to victory, while David Barrett had his hand raised in triumph following an end-to-end four- rounder with Thomas O’Neill.
Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) high performance coach Jim Moore had no hesitation in predicting that light heavyweight Tommy McCarthy will go on to become one of the stars of Irish boxing in the near future. And the Ulster senior 81kg champ lived up to his billing with a solid display against Ciaran O’Griofa.
McCarthy’s laid-back style is contrasted with an ability to move swiftly up through the gears, and he did just that to devastating effect to stop O’Griofa in the second. McCarthy was 18 points up when the bout was halted.
Ross Lacey outscored John F Connors to win the last semi- final of the evening’s session and set up a heavyweight decider with Luke Cadden at next weekend’s finals.
In this afternoon’s session, James O’Donnell gave it everything he had in the fourth round of a high-tempo contest with eventual victor Charlie Haggerty, who skilfully maintained his three-point advantage in the face of a sustained offensive in the final frame.
Munster’s hopes of making the light flyweight final were dashed when Garry Molly produced a controlled performance versus the brave Stephen Farrell, while Ruairi Dalton, an Irish and Ulster 2008 senior finalist, saw off the challenge of Neil Walker in an all- Antrim/Belfast dust up after building on his lead in every round up to the final bell.
Tyrone McCullagh is also through to the finals, despite the best efforts of Alan Phelan, who never stopped coming forward. However, there was no denying McCullagh’s superiority on the day.
Ray Moylett is one of the favourites in the lightweight division, but the Mayo teenager had to maintain his concentration against James McDonagh, who took a standing count in the fourth. Moylett will meet his own club-mate Martin McDonagh in next Friday’s 60kg final – McDonagh edged out Patrick Harkin in one of the fights of the tournament, a four-round battle of attrition which was level five times before McDonagh, who was never behind in the bout, took the final round.
Patrick J Ward is just one bout away from glory, along with David Joyce, who knocked out Conrad Cummins with a stunning left-hook short-right combination in the first round. Joyce was seven points up at the time.
Matthew O’Sullivan, the impressive Stephen Ward (who was obliged to take a standing count versus Alan Delmar in the third), Luke Cadden and Darren Cruise (after out-pointing Sean Turner) are also just eight minutes from landing Irish titles.
In other action, Aaron Rogan claimed a razor-thin countback victory in an exciting light fly-weight all-Ulster Junior Cadet final with Gerard McCauley. Rogan opened up a two-point advantage in the second but McCauley won the final round to leave both boxers tied at the bell.
