The High Chaparral was the venue for the Geesala tournament last Saturday night and a packed venue enjoyed some enthralling boxing. The best contest of the night was the female bout between National Champions Ciara Ginty (Geesala ) and Saibh Green (Ballinacarrow ). Ginty’s straight clean punching could not penetrate the strong defence of the visiting boxer and Green scored with strong body punches when in close contact. It was Green’s hand that was raised after the three rounds much to the disappointment of Ginty’s many supporters. Another absorbing contest was the final bout of the night between local boy Darren Timlin and John G Lawrence (Eagle club ). Timlin picked off his opponent with good fast punches throughout the contest and got the decision he deserved at the final bell. Local boy Mikey Conroy’s first contest in the ring on his return from illness was against last season’s Connacht champion Cíaran Brogan (Knockmore ) and Conroy boxed brilliantly to obtain a well deserved unanimous decision over a stronger opponent in the boy two 36kg grade. Conroy has a bright future between the ropes and is a boxer to watch out for in the coming years. Other winners on the night were Finian Carolan in the boy one 36kg, Oisin Lally in the boy two 39kg, James Doran
Loftus is best Boxer in Crossmolina
The Ardagh/Crossmolina tournament was held last Friday night in Hiney’s Upperdeck, Crossmolina and there were some entertaining contests in the second half of the program. The sole female bout on the bill between Saibh Green, Ballinacarrow, Sligo and Ciara Sheedy, (Swinford ) was also highly entertaining with the Sligo boxer having her hand raised at the end of the three rounds. National Champion and Irish International boxer Matthew Davis Ardagh/Crossmolina club had a tough, clean all action bout against Martin Collins (St Anne’s ). The Westport boxer was outstanding against the highly experienced local boy but it was Davis’s experience that helped him obtain the unanimous decision. It was the seventh bout before local boy Dean Loftus was the first home boxer to have his hand raised after a cracking bout against Aaron Daly from Castlebar and the Ardagh/Crossmolina boy went on to receive the award for the best boxer of the night. A special presentation was made at the interval to Matthew Davis and Nicholas Gallagher from the host club in special recognition of their international achievement on the Ireland v England International in Belmullet at the end of last year.
