Boxing: Lavery and McKenna make finals

Wednesday

March 07, 2007

 

Mark Lavery won a barnstorming semi-final with Immaculata's Brendan Ledley at the John Kyle Insurance Antrim championships in St Kevin's Hall last night.

Lavery, a double Irish champion, edged the first round 9-6 after a furious opening and the action was unrelenting.

Lavery's right hand was most particularly potent and took a 28-20 verdict to seal his place in the Youth1 50kg decider.

Lavery of Poleglass now meets Ciaran McCarthy of Oliver Plunkett in the final tomorrow night.

"That was a real tough fight but I thought I won it and now I'm looking forward to he final," said Lavery.

Matt McKenna of Sacred Heart, Belfast matched Lavery's display as he forced a stoppage of Declan Milligan of Saints in the Boy4 42kg semi-final.

McKenna led 6-2 after the first round and then forced a count in the second before stretching his lead to the decisive 15-point mark, which led to the stoppage.

McKenna now faces Brendan McWilliams of Belfast Kronk in what should be a highly entertaining final.

Smart mover McWilliams repeatedly rammed home his jab and deserved the 16-10 victory over Dean McComb of Corpus Christi.

Other results:

Youth1 66kg: Declan Dalton (St Agnes) bt Ciaran Gillen (Clonard) 16-4;

Tony Nellins (Eastside) bt Ross Wilson (Abbey) 14-5.

Youth1 80kg: Dominic Gallagher (Saints) bt Aaron Kelly (AHC) rsc1.

 

 

Boxing: Watson wins semi thriller

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

By David Watson

 

It was grass roots boxing at it's best as 16-year-olds Manus Watson and Matthew Wilton fought to a standstill at the John Kyle Insurance Antrim championships in St Kevin's Hall last night.

Watson and Four Nations champion Wilton of Eastside ABC finished the three rounds tied at 13-13 but on a countback of punches landed the Sacred Heart teenager won their Youth2 66kg semi-final 56-49.

In the battle of All Ireland champions Ruari Dalton of St John's defeated Tyrone McKenna of Oliver Plunkett 10-6, having led 5-0 after the first.

Mark Lavery won a barnstorming Youth1 50kg semi-final with Immaculata's Brendan Ledley.

Lavery, a double Irish champion, edged the first round 9-6 after a furious opening and the action was unrelenting.

Lavery's right hand was particularly potent and he won 28-20 verdict to seal his place in the decider against Ciaran McCarthy of Oliver Plunkett.

Matt McKenna of Sacred Heart matched Lavery's display as he forced a stoppage of Declan Milligan of Saints in the Boy4 42kg semi-final.

McKenna led 6-2 after the first round and then forced a count in the second before stretching his lead to the decisive 15-point mark, which led to the stoppage.

McKenna now faces Brendan McWilliams of Belfast Kronk in what should be a highly entertaining final.

Smart mover McWilliams repeatedly rammed home his jab and deserved the 16-10 victory over Dean McComb of Corpus Christi.

Other semi-final results:

Youth1 66kg: Declan Dalton (St Agnes) bt Ciaran Gillen (Clonard) 16-4;

Tony Nellins (Eastside) bt Ross Wilson (Abbey) 14-5.

Youth1 80kg: Dominic Gallagher (Saints) bt Aaron Kelly (AHC) rsc1.

Youth2 57kg: David Graham (Sacred Heart) bt Matthew Crawley (Monkstown) 12-3;

60kg: Eamonn Clarke (Oliver Plunkett) bt Jordan Swain (Monkstown) 26-17;

Chris Meighton (Dockers) bt Gavin Duffy (st Geo/Mal) rsc3.

 

Photos Courtesy of Press Eye/Kelvin Boyes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boxing: Walsh is in cruise control as he lands antrim title

Saturday, March 10, 2007

By David Kelly

 

David Walsh produced an eye-catching performance to land the Youth2 66kg title at the John Kyle Antrim championships in St Kevin's Hall last night.

Walsh demonstrated good movement and quick hand speed as he forced a second round stoppage of Manus Watson of Sacred Heart.

Walsh, of St John's, will now be aiming to land the Irish title in two weeks time.

There was better news for the Sacred Heart club as Martin Kerr and David Graham both picked up titles.

Graham got off to a flying start in the opening round and led 7-0 as he picked off Lisburn's Martin Frazer with ease in their Youth2 57kg decider.

Credit to Frazer as he tried to press the action and gain a foothold but Graham was always on top and the Lisburn man had to take a count in the second round before being stopped in the third.

Martin Kerr landed the Youth1 63kg title with a 10-4 decision over Lewis McKee of Abbey.

Gleann's Kieran McCoy is desperate to claim an Irish title after his Antrim success.

In a highly entertaining contest McCoy won the Youth1 52kg decider, defeating Joe Devlin of Immaculata 17-11.

McCoy certainly didn't have it all his own way and was trailing 5-3 after the first.

Devlin's aggression had won him the first but then McCoy settled down and started to find the range with his jab and going into the final round he was 10-7 ahead.

McCoy continued to pepper Devlin, who enjoyed sporadic success with his quick hooks.

McCoy's coach Dessie Hill said: "He lost an Irish final five years ago by a point and it still hurts him. Hopefully he can get it this time."

Other results:

Youth1, 54kg: James Kennedy (Toome) bt Stephen Richmond (Braid) 21-8;

60kg: David Ferrin (Belfast Kronk) bt Darragh Hall (Saints) 15-6;

66kg: Declan Dalton (St Agnes) bt Tony Nellins (Eastside) 13-9;

80kg: Dominic Gallagher (Saints) bt Mark Fleming (Albert Foundry) rsc1.

Youth2, 54kg: Ruari Dalton (St John's) bt Daniel McDonald (Clonard) rsco2;

60kg: Chris Meighan (Dockers) bt Eamonn Clarke (Oliver Plunkett) rsc3.

 

 

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