Eight clubs in Mayo entered 17 boxers into the National Senior Cadet championships for 14-year-old and 15-year-old boxers. The competition was held in the National Stadium over three days last weekend. The IABA will be using these championships as part of their selection process for the European Junior Championships in Russia this summer.
St Anne’s from Westport provided five boxers, Castlebar sent forward three, Gurteen, Ardagh/Crossmolina and Ballyhaunis all sent two with one boxer each from Ardnaree, Ballina, and Ballinrobe also competing.
Four Mayo boxers were in action on the first night of the triple bill, with Jamie Conroy from Ballina having to pull out of the 48kg division through illness. Two of the four Mayo boxers happened to be drawn together in the first round of the 46kg division, with Aaron Daly (Castlebar ) and Dean Loftus (Ardagh/Crossmolina ) going toe-to-toe with Loftus winning out. St Anne’s boxer James Daly progressed to the quarter final of the same weight division also with a 13-5 win over Patrick McInerney from St Michael’s in Athy. Castlebar’s Gavin Roche was the fourth Mayo competitor on the night and was disappointed to have gone home beaten on a score of 17-6.
On day two of the championships, Dean Loftus was back in the ring and faced Luke O’Shea from Ballincollig Club. After a tough three rounds O’Shea emerged victorious. James Brennan from St Anne’s was next of the Mayo boxers up, but he was also beaten 11-7 by Calvin Turner from the Royston club in the 46kg quarter final. Liam McStravick St Anne’s was up against it in his bout and received a standing count in round two. McStravick never really got into the contest and lost to Gearoid Lynch (Bantry BC ) 16-6. Martin Collins form St Anne’s and boxing at 54kg was just one of three Mayo boxers to have their hand raised during day two. Collins came through a tough battle with Alex Gahan from Watergrasshill to win on a score of 11-10. He picked up a two point penalty in the final round making the few moments after the final bell a tense affair as the decision was awaited. In the same weight division Barry Ward from Gurteen also picked up a win during last Saturday afternoon’s second session seeing off his opponent 19-13. In the 57kg grade Matthew Davis from Ardagh/Crossmolina had his bout stopped in the third round by the referee with the result going to his opponent. In the evening session of the second day, two Ballyhaunis men stepped into the ring and left it three rounds later with wins under their belts. Sean Conroy picked the win in the 75kg grade when the referee stopped the competition in the third round. In the last bout of the evening, Patrick Sweeney had close encounter with Darragh Darcy where he came out the victor by a single point in the 80kg+ weight division.
The first Mayo man in on day three was Martin Collins whose fight went to a countback to decide a winner after the bout finished eight points each after three rounds. On the count back Collins was deemed the winner 25-24. That win put Collins into the last four of the 54kg grade this weekend.
Barry Ward from Gurteen’s adventure in the championships at the same weight division came to an end in his quarter-final when he lost out 13-4 to Vlad Komarshuck (Wexford CBS ). Johnny Ward also from Gurteen lost out to Adam Curley (St Colman’s ) on a score of 12-6 in his 60kg last eight bout.
There was no success for Mayo boxers in the 63kg weight division either, with both Colm Quinn (Castlebar ) and Evan Heneghan (Ballinrobe ) losing out at the quarter-final stages. There were three Mayo boxers in quarter-final action of the 80kg+ grade. Patrick Famulski from St Anne’s lost out to Stephen Bonner (Buncranna ) in his contest 11-7. The final bout of the weekend was an all Mayo affair with Frank Carr (St Anne’s ) beating Patrick Sweeney (Ballyhaunis ) 14-10 in the 80kg grade last eight bout.
On Saturday the semi-finals of the championships will take place in the National Stadium. Martin Collins (St Anne’s ) will take on Kalum McConville (Delgan ) in the 54kg semi-final, Sean Conroy (Ballyhaunis ) faces Keelan Sexton (Ennis ) in the 75kg semi-final and Francis Carr (St Anne’s ) takes on Gary Maughan (Cavan ) in the 80kg+ semi-final.
