International reputations were enhanced by a batch of young Ulster lads in Austria last week – and Ireland’s top seniors will be hoping to do the same in Croatia in the weeks ahead.
Ulster boxers encountered some tough judging and even tougher opposition in their five-day trip to the Tyrol in Austria.
The Ulster lads eventually went down 5-2 against their Austrian hosts with some wicked body punching playing a major part in the home team’s success.
But the 5-2 scoreline doesn’t reflect the close nature of the match according to Ulster team manager Jack Monaghan.
According to Monaghan, a vastly-experienced referee/judge and Ulster Council treasurer, the Immaculata duo of flyweight Michael Kelly and light-welter Colm McCorry were unlucky not to have been awarded winning decisions.
And the star of the tournament honour belonged to young Tyrone lightweight Adrian McCann (Clonoe).
“I felt that Kelly and McCorry should both have got their decisions,” said Monaghan.
“Michael Bustard (Monkstown) also put up a creditable performance to lose a close match.
“And we could easily have had another win with our heavyweight Damien Ramsey from Ligoniel.
“Damien came back very strong in the final round but was just pipped on the line.
“Another half a minute and I felt he would have taken the decision, it was that close.”
The Holy Family official highlighted the performances of Adrian McCann (Clonoe) and Chris Meighan (Dockers).
“Adrian was the star of the tournament, an excellent display of controlled boxing,” added Monaghan.
“Chris also turned in a great performance, stopping his opponent in the third round.
“Padraig McCrory (St John’s) was boxing very well until he was caught with a great body shot in the final round.
“And Ryan Greene (Dockers) also suffered the same fate with strong body shots by the Austrian stopping him in the third.
“But overall it was a good trip, great experience for our up-and-coming boys.”
Ulster coaches were Paddy Fitzsimmons (Dockers) and Killian O’Neill (Dromore) with Gerry Wilson (Derry) as referee/judge with Ulster team rigs sponsored by Pug Athletic.
The team ended the trip with a two day’s of skiing lessons on the Tyrol slopes.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s top seniors will be hoping there are no slip-ups at the Zlatko Hrbic tournament in Croatia from March 7 to 11.
The newly-crowned National Senior champions will travel to Croatia with High Performance director Gary Keegan and coaches Billy Walsh and Jim Moore.
Missing through injury is St Michael’s, Athy welterweight Roy Sheahan.
The Croatian trip is the beginning of a key year on the international stage for Irish amateur boxing said former Irish star Walsh.
“The Croatian Multi-Nations is one of the more competitive tournaments and some of the top nations will be competing there,” he said.
“This is a crucial year for us starting with Croatia as we will be competing in multi-nations tournaments every month right up the EU Championships at the Stadium in Dublin in June.
“After that, our focus will switch to the World Championships in Moscow in September which will act as one of the qualifiers for the 2008 Olympic Games.
“The places on our squad for Moscow will be determined by how each individual member of various squads perform at multi-nation level over the next few months.”

ULSTER v AUSTRIA
51kg: M Kelly (Immaculata) lost A Walti (pts);

57kg: C Meighan (Dockers) bt I Obradovic (rsc3);

60kg: A McCann (Clonoe) bt C Egger (points);

64kg: C McCorry (Immaculata) drew M Papst;

69kg: M Bustard (Monkstown) lost M Nader (points);

75kg: P McCrory (St John’s) lost O Obradovic (rsc4);

81kg: R Greene (Dockers) lost T Gzim (rsc3);

91kg: D Ramsey (Ligoniel) lost S Apanovic (points)

ireland squad
Croatia Multi-Nations, March 7 to 11.
48kg: P Barnes (Holy Family);

51kg: C Ahern (Baldoyle);

54kg: R Lindberg (Immaculata);

57kg: DO Joyce (St Michael’s, Athy);

60kg: JJ Joyce (St Michael’s, Athy);

64kg: A Carlyle (Golden Cobra);

75kg: D Sutherland (St Saviour’s, OBA);

81kg: K Egan (Neilstown); 91kg: Ian Timms (St Matthew’s);

91+kg: Cathal McMonagle (Holy Trinity)
Team manager: J Walsh; coaches:
B Walsh, J Moore; high performance director: G Keegan; R&J: S Duffy; physio: Y Ryan.