Geesala Boxing Club held their annual tournament in Erris House Hotel last Saturday night. As usual there was a full house and the audience was treated to a great night’s entertainment. Dylan Meenaghan provided the curtain raiser and also the first win of the night for the Geesala team. He was followed by fine performances from Peter Howard and Martin McDonnell. Martin’s brother Shane McDonnell also gave a good performance but did not get the nod from the judges. Liam Ginty, who hails from Inver, was desperately unlucky when he was the wrong side of a majority decision in a very close contest. It was the same story for Pearse Holmes. However James Coyle got the Geesala side back to winning ways and he was followed with another win by last year’s Irish champion, Shane McIntyre. Last time out Shane McAndrew thrilled the crowd in Glenamoy with a great knock out win but, despite a great battle, he failed to register a victory. Then newcomer Andrew Kelly gave a tremendous performance to snatch another victory for the home side. Just before the break the crowd were on their feet again and despite the lack of local interest they acknowledged the skill and determination of J Langan of Knockmore and D O'Reilly from Nielstown in Dublin.
But this year it was the girls who stole the show. First of all there was Jaqui Lynch, who won her first Irish title for Geesala last year. She thrilled the audience with her skill and speed and then showed great sportsmanship in warmly embracing her opponent. Then it was the turn of two-time Irish champion Louise Donaghue, and what a fight this turned out to be. Louise started slowly and it was into the second round before she warmed to the task. Her opponent, M Mongan from Ballinasloe (also a two time Irish champion ), was not prepared to give an inch, but it was the Doohoma girl who turned on the style in the final round. She not only won the bout but also the fight of the night and became the first girl ever to do so in the club’s history.
Josie Conroy also had a fight on her hands and did very well to overcome a formidable opponent in A Crawford of Raphoe in Co Donegal. Then it was the turn of the big boys, David Timlin of Geesala and Brian Mullen of Westport, two big men, despite the fact they are only 15 years old. This was another tough battle and in the third round when both boys were getting tired, the Westport man came under increasing scrutiny from the referee for spoiling. In the end the Rossport man came out the unanimous winner. Top of the bill this year was Anthony Coyle, the three times Irish champion showed his class from the opening bell and proved too good for Martin Mongan of Ballinasloe. The fight ended with second round stoppage in favour of the Geesala man. This year the Olympic silver medallist Kenneth Egan was the special guest on hand to present the trophies. The Nielstown boxer, who is currently in training for a record 10th national senior title, paid tribute to the Geesala Club on their recent IABA national awards for best club and best coaches.
Club Chairman Gerry Coyle also paid tribute to second in command Johnny Carey, Pat McDonagh (sec ) Mícheál Ó Conaill (treas ) and coaches James Mangan and David Timlin. He also thanked Dr John Flynn of Bangor Erris for his service to the club over the years.
