The weigh in for the 2013 Mayo Boxing Championships will be held in the Peter Callaghan Centre (St Anne’s Club ) Westport this Sunday from 9am to 10am. Boxing will commence at 12 noon and the semi/finals will be held in the Killala Community Centre the following weekend, Saturday February 16 and Sunday 17.
Clean sweep for Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves Club obtained a clean sweep of wins at their tournament in the Broadhaven Bay Hotel last Saturday night. The home club notched up nine consecutive wins before the enthralling exhibition contest between seven time national champion Michelle Lynch Golden from Gloves and four time national champion Caoilin Murray Kilfinora BC. Even though Lynch gave away as much as 7kg the opportunity for both girls to sharpen up on their skills will benefit both of them immensely in the senior championships next weekend. The tournament commenced with three evenly matched exhibition bouts and all six boys were delighted with the opportunity to compete on the main event. Novice boxer Stephen Gibbons (Boy 3 66kg ) stepped into the ring for the first time in competition and performed exceptionally well, recovering from a right cross in round two courtesy of David Sweeney from Ballyhaunis which put the home boy to the canvas. Gibbons recovered well and went on to have his hand raised after the final bell. The other Gibbons on the programme and older brother Ciaran were involved in the best contest of the night against gamely Mitchel Fahey, Charlestown. Joanne Padden was highly impressive in her contest and boxed exceptionally well, stopping her opponent in the second round. A major announcement was made by coach Martin McIntyre at the interval that obtained the biggest round of applause of the night. McIntyre was delighted to inform the spectators that the club had just received notification that the Golden Gloves Club had obtained full planning permission for its new gym and sincerely thanked everyone who had supported them in their long hard struggle
Clare defeat Mayo
The last tournament of the 2013 season before the Mayo Championships was staged by the Swinford Boxing Club in their splendid new Conway Gym and Fitness Centre last Sunday afternoon. A short programme of three exhibitions and nine bouts on the main program saw a Mayo selection take on a Clare selection. Jamie Butler, Ballinrobe BC, got the home team off to a winning start when she got a unanimous decision over Shannon Murray (Clare ). Abbie Comiskey and Erin Heneghan made it 3-0 for Mayo but the home team lost the next six bouts in succession leaving Clare 6-3 winners. It was the final bout of the afternoon between National Champions Kayleigh Mc Cormack (Clare ) who defeated Ciara Sheedy (Swinford ) that was awarded the best contest of the afternoon.
Vincy James Memorial Tournament
The fifth annual Vincy James Memorial tournament staged by the Knockmore Boxing Club consisted of three exhibition contests and 13 bouts on the main programme. All three of the exhibitions were close entertaining contests. William Maughan got the host club off to their first win in the opening bout on the main programme but the Knockmore club were on the wrong side to a number of majority decisions over the next six contests. Shea Pye, Darragh Gaughan, Ciaran Brogan, Ann Lisa Sweeney, and unluckiest of all Aidan Gaughan, were all narrowly defeated by the smallest of margins in contests that could have gone either way.
Three wins on the trot gave Knockmore coach’s hope of still obtaining a 7/6 win, if all remaining Knockmore boxers had their hand raised. Owen Maughan, Knockmore, did enough to obtain a win in his bout but Tomas Maughan performed exceptionally well and went on to have his name engraved on the Vincy James Cup. Eric Nash, Knockmore, had a tough bout against the much stronger Aaron Gethins but the home boxer was clever and picked his opponent off with fast punches to obtain an unanimous decision. Jason Sweeney’s brave attempt to make it four wins in a row for Knockmore came to an abrupt ending with a nose injury. Darren Timlin and Michael Maughan were also on the wrong side of majority decisions, but the Knockmore coach will not be too disappointed with results as they could have quite easily obtained six or seven more wins if lady luck had been on their side.
