2006 Irish Seniors

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Boxing: Hamills show class to book places in semis

By David Kelly

16 January 2006

TJ Hamill got off to a perfect start in his bid for Irish senior glory at the National Stadium in Dublin.

Hamill of All Saints is through to a semi-final clash with David Joyce of St Michael's Athy and is one of nine Ulstermen in the last four.

Ulster senior champion Hamill continued where he left off at the Ulster Hall last month, comprehensively outpointing Anthony Fitzgerald of Corinthians 17-3.

It was another swashbuckling performance from Hamill, whose dad and co-trainer Matt believes he is "the best shape I've ever seen him in".

The man Hamill defeated in the Ulster senior welterweight final, Thomas Duddy went out as he went lost 18-8 to Fergus Turner.

Thomas's cousin Dermot Hamill had a fine win as he got the edge over David A Joyce of St Michael's Athy at light-welterweight.

Hamill, clearly fully recovered from his fractured foot, boxed beautifully to take a 12-11 decision and through to a meeting with Brosna's John Joe McDonagh in the semis.

In the other light-welter semi Cavan's Ulster champion David Nevin tangles with Tommy Dwyer of St Aidan's.

Nevin impressed in his quarter-final as he defeated Aodh Carlyle of Golden Cobra 19-9.

Ulster senior lightweight champion Kevin Doherty also moved through to the last four after a fourth round stoppage of William Delaney, while heavyweight Shane Curran of Holy Trinity defeated Michael Fouhy of St Colman's 13-12.

Curran now faces reigning champion Ian Timms while clubmate Cathal McMonagle meets Alan Reynolds, now boxing for Sligo again after his spell with the Dockers during his success at the Ulster championships.

McMonagle defeated Maxel Oshun of Arklow 13-5.

At light-fly, Commonwealth Games representative Paddy Barnes of Holy Family meets Gary McDonagh in the last four, while Belfast's reigning flyweight champion Carl Frampton of Midland/White City faces TJ Doheny of Portlaoise.

Holy Trinity's Conall Carmichael meets Martin Sweeney of Drimnagh at super-heavyweight.

In the same division Scott Belshaw, now with Eastside, and Holy Trinity's Chris McClung both went out in the quarter-finals.

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Monday, 23 January 2006, 08:57 GMT

Mixed luck for Hamills in Dublin

Dermot Hamill was the only Ulster winner in Saturday's Irish Amateur Boxing semi-finals in Dublin.

Hamill claimed a 6-5 win over Brosna's John Joe McDonagh in the light welterweight semi-finals.

However, Dermot's cousin TJ was beaten 17-14 by David Joyce in the welterweight semi-finals.

Holder Karl Frampton was beaten 7-4 by TJ Doherty in the flyweight semis Cathal McMonagle suffered a cut defeats by Alan Reynolds at heavyweight.

Holy Trinity man McMonagle was 11-6 down after four rounds when a halt was called.

Paddy Barnes and David Nevin claimed wins in Friday's semi-finals.

Holy Family light-fly Barnes defeated Kilcullen's Gary McDonagh 24-9 while Cavan man Nevin beat Tommy Dwyer 12-9 in the light-welterweight semi-finals.

Nevin will now face Dermot Hamill in an all-Ulster decider.

Holy Trinity's Conall Carmichael suffered a countback defeat by Martin Sweeney in the heavyweight semi-finals.

Irish senior championships

Belfast Telegraph Home > Sport > Football

Hamill eyes historic title

By David Kelly

27 January 2006

Dermot Hamill aims to make a little bit of history tomorrow night at the Irish senior finals in Dublin.

Hamill will be bidding to become the first man from All Saints ABC in Ballymena to land the top honour in Irish amateur boxing.

Either way an Ulsterman will be claiming the light-welterweight title as his opponent is Cavan's David Nevin - who claimed the Ulster senior title last month at the Ulster Hall in the absence of Hamill, who had a fractured foot.

Hamill has been in fine form throughout the championships and uncle Gerry, a 1978 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, expects him to come out on top.

Gerry, who coaches Dermot along with Matt Hamill, said: "Dermot has matured a great deal as a boxer and I believe he's ready now to take the title but he will have to get off to a good start. I have told him that the first round could well be crucial. If he can get a three or four-point lead on Nevin then I think the title is there for Dermot.

"Nevin's natural game is to attack and although he may not do that at the start he will have to go for it if Dermot has a lead.

"It would be great for the club if Dermot could become the first one to get an Irish senior title. I won the Irish title but I was boxing for Holy Family."

Ulster light-flyweight champion Paddy Barnes is the only other Ulsterman in the finals as many of the Commonwealth Games team did not enter.

Barnes meets Jimmy Moore, who defeated him in last year's semi-finals.

"I think this time it will be different because I have a lot more experience and I will box him more than just going for him the way I did last year," said Barnes.

"He's a strong fighter but I have won a Commonwealth championship bronze since then so I'm ready to take him."

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