Nine Mayo boys won titles in the 2013 National championships in the Boy 3, Youth 1 and Youth 2 grades in the National Stadium last weekend. Westport’s St Anne’s club were one of the most successful clubs involved in the entire championships, winning all three of the final’s their boxers were involved in. James Brennan followed in the footsteps of his father winning the Youth 1, 44kg title 26 years after his dad Martin won the Junior 75kg title. Brennan defeated Ned O’Reilly Tramore BC on a score of 14-10 in the final.
Francis Mc Donagh St Anne’s had a tough contest against Sean Devril from St Michael’s in Athy and came out the right side of tight 8-6 decision to win the Boy 4, 70kg division.
St Anne’s third title went to Francis Carr who added another title to his previous 2009/10 Boy 1, 66kg title. Carr had a comfortable win against Jody Mitchell from St Paul’s in Nenagh on a score of 13-7.
One of the best boxers of the championships was Dean Loftus from Ardagh/Crossmolina who caused a major upset defeating Stephen Mc Kenna, from the Old School club by a massive margin of 13-4 and lifting the Youth 1, 44kg title. The second title for his club was won by Matthew Davis who boxed extremely well throughout the championships and defeated Arthur McCarthy from the Brian Dillon’s club 12-9 to win the Boy 4, 57kg title. It was Davis’s first national title having previously won two junior cadet title’s in 2010/11 and 20011/12 seasons.
Ballyhaunis boxing club also came away from the championships with two titles. Sean Conroy had a double score victory in his Youth 1, 75kg final defeating Keelan Sexton Ennis by a score of 12-6. His club mate Patrick Sweeney won the Youth 1, 91kg title defeating Alan Sweeney Doolin club in his final. Multi national title holders Jamie Conroy from Ballina BC and Frankie Cleary of Olympic BC had a cracking three rounder at the semi final stage of the championships with Conroy going on to add another title to his already impressive four national and one cadet title. Conroy received a walkover in the final as his opponent withdrew from the competition and is now also the 2012/13 Youth 1, 48kg national champion. Kieran Lally Ardnaree BC obtained the Youth 1, 36kg National title.
Championships running into this weekend at other grades
There’s more action in the National Stadium this weekend with the National Boy 1, 2 and 3 championships taking starting on Tuesday gone, April 2 and finishing up tomorrow, Saturday April 6. In the preliminary round of the Boy 1 grade on Wednesday, Owen McDonagh (St Anne’s ) lost out to James Connors from (Ballinacollig ) 8-4 at the 33kg. Declan McDonagh (Claremorris ) beat Gary Arthurs (Gleann ) 10-4 in the 42kg grade. In Boy 2, 29kg Jordan Muldoon (Ardnaree ) beat Jordan Ryan (St Francis ) 7-5. Ballina’s Martin McDonagh saw off John O’Reilly (Tramore ) 5-1 in 31kg. Geesala’s Michael Conroy beat Brendan O’Hagan (Bishop Kellys ) in the 36kg 8-5. There wasn’t such good luck for both Ryan Heraty (St Anne’s ) and Alan Brennan (Charlestown ) who were beaten at 46kg and 57kg respectively. The competition will continue over the weekend and you can catch up on all the results daily on http://www.iaba.ie
