Boxing: Belfast will give warm welcome to American Olympic team

Monday, January 01, 2007

By David Kelly

 

McCrory, recently appointed as secretary of the referees and judges for the world governing body of amateur boxing AIBA, revealed that he has already been in contact with the Americans.

The US team at the World Championships in 2001 when staged at the Odyssey Arena were delighted with the hospitality and that would seem to be a factor in the likelihood of the Americans being based here before the Games kick off.

While it may seem some way off, preparations for Olympic camps start early and McCrory has been very pleased with the interest shown in Belfast and he wants a boxing facility to meet their requirements - paid for by a slice of the £50m promised by government for Northern Ireland ahead of the 2012 Games.

"The Americans have already been in touch with me and I don't see why they can't be based here. They enjoyed themselves so much the last time in 2001 and they are keen to be here. It's ideal for them," said McCrory.

"Apart from the Americans I have also had contact from the Canadian boxing team as well as the Hungarians, so it shows the interest there is in Belfast.

"But if these teams are to come we want to make sure that we have the right facilities for them. And we would hope to get a good slice of the £50m on offer for sport in order to build a boxing complex and we are already looking at part of the Valley Leisure Centre.

"We would need a place which could hold two rings and in which you could hold internationals and competitions, so that's the target for us in 2007.

"The sport needs a specific place for training, so we are no longer relying on clubs to provide their facilities."

Meanwhile, the Smithwick's Ulster Senior championships start on Wednesday night in the Dockers Club with the quarter-finals of the featherweights and welterweights. Then on Friday night at the same venue there will be nine semi-finals, one of which will feature the highly rated Anthony Cacace, who recently landed the Ulster Intermediate title at the first attempt. Lightweight Cacace will take on Paul Barbour of Omagh for a place in the final against the winner of the meeting between Derry's Kevin Doherty and Mark Morris of Gleann. Finals night for seniors is January 9 at the Ulster Hall.

 

Full draw:

Wednesday(8.00pm):

57Kg: Patrick McGarrity (H.Trinity) v Steven Donnelly (All Saints); John Braniff (Holy Trinity) v John Cooley (St. Joseph's); Mark Ginley (O. Plunkett) v Eamon Finnegan (O. Plunkett)

69kg: Niall Diamond (All Saints) v Shane McKeown (S. Heart, Newry).

 

Friday semi-finals (8.00pm)

57Kg: Barry McCafferty (S.J.B. Belfast) v Winner No.1; Winner No.2 v Winner No.3

60Kg: Kevin Doherty (Ring, Derry) v Mark Morris (Gleann); Anthony Cacace (O. Plunkett) v Paul Barbour (Omagh B.C.)

64Kg: Martin Tully (H. Trinity) v Niall McGinley (Bishop Kelly)

69Kg: David Nevin (Cavan) v William McLaughlin (Illies G.G); Thomas Duddy (Ring, Derry) v Winner No.4

81Kg: Damien O'Hagan (Bishop Kelly) v Ryan Green (Dockers)

91Kg: Damien Ramsey (Ligoniel) v John Sweeney (Dungloe)

 

Finals Thursday January 11 (7.45pm).

48Kg: Ciaran O'Neill (Dromore) v Patrick Barnes (Holy Family)

51Kg: Michael Kelly (Immaculata) v Jamie Conlan (S.J.B. Belfast)

54Kg: Marc McCullough (Cairnlodge) v Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata)

64Kg: Dermot Hamill (All Saints) v WINNER No. 9

75Kg: Thomas J. Hamill (All Saints) v Eamon O'Kane (Immaculata)

81Kg: Stephen Martin (SJB. Belfast) Vs WINNER No. 12

91Kg: Finbar Doran (Phoenix) v WINNER No. 13

91+Kg: Cathal McMonagle (Holy Trinity) WALKOVER.

Boxing: Donnelly's hoping he can make early impact

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

By John Campbell

 

The All Saints lad, a former Ulster Intermediate champion, has always been seen as one of the most skilful young boxers coming through but some have questioned whether or not he has the physical strength to handle the higher level.

But coach Gerry Hamill believes the time is right for the 18-year-old and this evening in the Dockers Club he meets Holy Trinity's Pat McGarrity at featherweight.

This comes just a month after losing in the Irish intermediate bantamweight final to Immaculata's Ryan Lindberg - last year's Ulster senior flyweight champion.

McGarrity may be a few years older than Donnelly but he is also making his debut at this level.

Hamill said: "Some people may feel that Stephen is not ready for the seniors and I accept that he still has a lot of maturing to do.

"But what we are banking on is his skill - he's a very quick and skilful lad and I think he'll be alright. He has nothing to fear.

"What has really helped Stephen is the sparring that he has been getting with the High Performance team.

"Working out with them, and also boxing for Ulster in Canada has brought him on."

The All Saints club also has Niall Diamond making his senior debut - even though he is ten years older than Donnelly.

All action Diamond is facing Shane McKeown of Sacred Heart Newry in what may well be the fight of the night. Hamill added: "Niall is getting near the end of his career and he wanted a crack at the seniors so we let him go this year and one thing is sure he'll give it everything."

Also at featherweight is the all-Oliver Plunkett clash between Eamonn Finnegan and Mark Ginley, while John Cooley of St Joseph's, Derry meets John Braniff of Holy Trinity.

Dazzling Donnelly is too hot for McGarrity

Thursday, January 04, 2007

By David Kelly

The pencil thin All Saints ABC lad may have suffered a little from the toxic cocktail of adrenaline and nerves, which curtailed his ability in the opening exchanges, but by the end he was cruising like a finely tuned Ferrari.

Holy Trinity's Pat McGarrity gave it everything in this entertaining featherweight quarter-final but the 15-8 decision in favour of 18-year-old Donnelly was certainly a fair reflection of the four rounds.

McGarrity, clearly physically stronger, began well as Donnelly took his time to let the punches flow but the Ballymena lad's movement was causing him problems by the second round.

In the third Donnelly, a former Ulster Intermediate champion, settled down and added smart, short combination punching to his slick footwork and at times McGarrity seemed a little bemused.

Nevertheless he came charging out at the start of the fourth round and for the final two minutes launched wild assaults but Donnelly remained calm and glided around the ring, making sure of victory with a series of sling shots.

Having passed his senior debut in some style, Donnelly now meets reigning featherweight champion Barry McCafferty in the semi-finals tomorrow night.

Eamonn Finnegan came out on top in the all-Oliver Plunkett featherweight quarter-final, defeating clubmate Mark Ginley 19-9.

The scoreline was probably a little harsh on Ulster Intermediate champion Ginley but Finnegan's smart, accurate assaults always had him ahead.

Ginley had a clear edge in reach but to his credit Finnegan managed to step inside and whip over his quick blows as well as impressively varying his assaults and going into the third he was four points ahead.

Ginley suddenly found his range in the third round, which seemed to be his most productive, as he got through with some solid jabs and hooks to the body. While that appeared to bring him a little closer to Finnegan, he found himself 12-7 down and his clubmate made sure there would be no doubt about the verdict with a clinical display of boxing in the final two minutes.

Finnegan will now meet John Cooley of St Joseph's, Derry, who defeated John Braniff of Holy Trinity 17-10 in what was a close encounter.

After a tight opening round, Cooley was more accurate in the second round but then Braniff edged the third as they went toe-to-toe, enjoying eye-catching success with his right uppercut.

But then in the fourth Cooley pulled away as he rattled home his hooks and slipped Braniff's counter blows.

Shane McKeown of Sacred Heart, Newry was an impressive second round winner against Niall Diamond of All Saints in their welterweight quarter-final.

Diamond had to take a count in the first after a quick, solid burst of blows and the Ballymena man did well to come out and give it all he had in the second.

But McKeown was simply too classy and he jolted Diamond again, forcing him to take two further counts and leading referee Eugene Duffy to call a halt.

Boxing: Coach Hamill sits it out as Donnelly bids for final

Friday, January 05, 2007

By David Kelly

Donnelly gave a very good performance in his senior debut on Wednesday night, defeating Paddy McGarrity with Commonwealth Games gold medallist Gerry in his corner.

But against Barry McCafferty tonight in the semi-finals of the Smithwick's Ulster seniors Hamill will be sitting at ringside instead due to what may be described as a conflict of interests.

"Barry is my nephew, the son of my sister Maura who's married to Barry's dad and coach Sean so I have opted not to do Stephen's corner," said Gerry.

"I know Stephen understands and it just wouldn't feel right."

Though, Gerry would not be surprised if Donnelly upset the odds and defeated McCafferty before a big crowd in the Dockers Club.

"I thought Stephen boxed very well against McGarrity. He was a little nervous but then settled down and showed his skill and speed," said Hamill.

"He's a lad who is still developing but I felt that he showed a lot of maturity in the way that he handled McGarrity who tried to push him back and in the last round really went for it.

"But Stephen showed good composure and I think just getting over the first senior hurdle will have done him the world of good.

 

"But I'm sure McCafferty will offer a lot more problems than McGarrity did."

The winner will meet either Derry's John Cooley or Eamonn Finnegan of Oliver Plunkett in the final next Thursday night in the Ulster Hall.

Finnegan should come out on top in this one, while his clubmate Anthony Cacace makes his senior debut at lightweight.

Ulster Intermediate champion Cacace meets Paul Barbour of Omagh in the last four and should set up a final date with either Kevin Doherty or Mark Morris. Cacace looks a fine prospect and should compound that tonight.

For sheer entertainment, the welterweight meeting between Michael McLaughlin of Illies and David Nevin of Cavan should be worth watching with plenty of leather flying from every angle.

The other welterweight clash Thomas Duddy of Ring, Derry against Shane McKeown of Sacred Heart, Newry.

 

Semi-finals (8.00pm):

57Kg: Barry McCafferty (S.J.B. Belfast) v Stephen; John Cooley (St Joseph's Derry) v Eamonn Finnegan (Oliver Plunkett)

60Kg: Kevin Doherty (Ring, Derry) v Mark Morris (Gleann); Anthony Cacace (O. Plunkett) v Paul Barbour (Omagh B.C.)

64Kg: Martin Tully (H. Trinity) v Niall McGinley (Bishop Kelly)

69Kg: David Nevin (Cavan) v William McLaughlin (Illies G.G); Thomas Duddy (Ring, Derry) v Shane McKeown (Sacred Heart, Newry)

81Kg: Damien O'Hagan (Bishop Kelly) v Ryan Green (Dockers)

91Kg: Damien Ramsey (Ligoniel) v John Sweeney (Dungloe)

McAllister hopes Cacace can bring back glory days

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

By David Kelly

 

Veteran coach McAllister will enter the Ulster Hall on Thursday night hoping for his first senior champion in over a decade.

It is certainly a long way from the night he stood before the rubble and embers that used to be his club.

"It was an awful time. I had formed the club in 1970 along with Jimmy Finnegan and we had a very good club with plenty of champions but then vandals came along and decided to burn it down," said McAllister.

"That was about 15 years ago and we were out of the sport for a few years before I managed to get the finance in place to build a new club. About 95 per cent of the money came from Make Belfast Work and we had to raise the rest.

"And we now have a club which holds two rings and we have plenty of lads at the gym and some very good ones coming through.

"It's great the way we have come back and I have been helped a great deal by Anto Taylor who works very hard in the gym."

The man with the class to hand the club their first champion his Ulster Intermediate titleholder Anthony Cacace.

Not that Cacace can expect an easy ride as he must dethrone reigning lightweight champion Kevin Doherty on finals night at the Smithwick's Ulster championships.

"I know Doherty's a very clever boxer but I'm still pretty confident that I can go and win it," said Cacace.

"It'll be great boxing in the Ulster Hall - I'm really looking forward to that and I feel that I'm improving with every fight.

"I can hardly put into words just what it would mean to win my first senior title at the first attempt. It wouldn't get much better than that."

Coach McAllister certainly believes in the clinical skills of Cacace - whose father Antonio is from Sorrento in Italy - and little wonder considering the record that he has already chalked up under the Belfast man's tutelage.

McAllister added: "He's a great kid, a lad who is very disciplined. He's won five Irish titles and three Four Nations titles and I have very high hopes for him.

 

"I don't say this lightly but from the moment he laced up a pair of gloves at the age of 11 I thought he could be a bit special.

"He's only lost four times and he is avenged three of those defeats. The other one was in the summer in the Irish under-19 championships in Dublin when he was beaten by the reigning Irish senior champion John Joe Joyce and many people thought he won it.

"He has the ability to go a very long way but he can't look past Doherty who's a good boxer and obviously has more experience at this level.

"But he'll be ready and if he can get the club it's first Ulster senior champion for around 15 years then it will fantastic for him, for me personally and for everyone at the club.

"And hopefully this can be the start of a run of success at the club at senior level.

"We've been doing very well at the junior levels and we have two very good kids coming through in Tommy McCarthy and Tyrone McKenna.

"They'll certainly be ready for the intermediates next year and who knows maybe even the seniors but they both have a lot of talent."

So it's over to Cacace and on Thursday night we'll find out a little bit more about this exciting teenager as he steps into the spotlight and seeks to grab his opportunity with both fists.

Victory would be sweet for him personally but also just reward for the many hours McAllister has put into not only coaching and honing his boxers for success but also rebuilding and holding the club together on a shoestring budget.

McKeown has sights on well earned glory

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

By David Kelly

Tomorrow night in the Ulster Hall the 25-year-old will clash with William McLaughlin of Illies Golden Gloves in the welterweight decider in the Smithwick's Ulster championships.

For this machine operator at Haldane Fisher in Newry it is an opportunity that he aims to seize having lost in he semi-finals last year to Derry's Thomas Duddy.

"I got my revenge on Duddy this year and now I want to go one better and get the title but I know that it won't be easy because McLaughlin is a real tough cookie," said McKeown, who picked up the Ulster Intermediate title last year.

Success at this level has come late on as a self-imposed exile from the sport for around three years left him back to square one. Indeed, having boxed successfully for St John Bosco, Newry and St Patrick's Newry as a junior, it seemed that his talent would be going to waste.

But arriving at the Sacred Heart club in the town and working along with coach Seamus McCormick seemed to spark a renewed passion for the ring.

"When he came to me was out of the game and just came for training and then after a while he seemed to want to give it another go and I worked with him and got him into good shape and last year he won the Ulster Intermediates and before that he won the Antrim Intermediates," said McCormick.

"He's always been a very dedicated lad but just at that time he got a little bit disillusioned. But he has worked very hard and deserves hi success and now he faces McLaughlin in what is a very tough fight."

McLaughlin once again demonstrated his usual full throttle aggression in defeating David Nevin in the last four and McKeown knows that he must be ready for a such an onslaught tomorrow night.

"McLaughlin just keeps coming and coming and I'm sure it's going to be a very hard four rounds but if I can keep my boxing together then hopefully I can come out on top.

"It would mean everything to me to win the title after being away from the sport when I felt a bit disillusioned and then coming back and now I have a chance of winning my first senior title."

Meanwhile, two other men making their debuts on the Ulster Hall stage will be Ryan Green of Dockers and Finbar Doran of Phoenix.

Green caused a slight upset with his semi-final victory over Damien O'Hagan of Bishop Kelly and should have the edge over Doran.

Lindberg prepared for class of McCullough

Thursday, January 11, 2007

 

Tonight in the Smithwick's Ulster senior finals at the Ulster Hall Lindberg is in the role of favourite and his opponent Marc McCullough the underdog seeking a major shock.

McCullough, of Cairn Lodge, has already won Antrim and Irish intermediate titles this season but Lindberg offers a much greater challenge for the former karate kid in tonight's bantamweight clash.

Lindberg has had incredible year, starting with that Ulster senior title before going on to make the quarter-finals of the Commonwealth Games, competing in the World Championships and in October he claimed the Irish under-21 title.

Now he is hoping to be one of three Immaculata boxers aiming for glory tonight and coach Nugget Nugent is naturally feeling quietly confident.

"It's a very interesting match-up between Lindberg and McCullough because McCullough is a very talented kid and we're certainly not taking him for granted," said Nugent.

"He's got a very quick right hand and he's got good movement so he will be a threat but I feel that Ryan is so focused and strong that he should be alright.

"And hopefully he can win these and then go on and get the Irish title. "

Nugent will also be hoping that Eamonn O'Kane can come out on top against TJ Hamill in what is an equally intriguing decider at middleweight.

Again the Immaculata man - formerly of St Canices - will start favourite as Hamill is moving up from welterweight.

Though, Hamill's coach and uncle Gerry Hamill is unconcerned that reigning champion O'Kane will have the advantage of being a natural middleweight.

"Eamonn's a very strong boxer but they have boxed before and many people thought that TJ should have got the decision."

The third Immaculata man shooting for glory is Michael Kelly, who is in his first senior final against Jamie Conlon of St John Bosco at flyweight.

While the Mac men are hoping for a treble, the same can be said of Ballymena's All Saints club as TJ Hamill's cousin Dermot and young Stephen Donnelly are in the light-welterweight and featherweight finals, respectively.

Donnelly has grown in confidence with every contest and there will be little between him and John Cooley of St Joseph's as they battle for the featherweight title.

In the light-welter decider Dermot Hamill will be expected to retain his trophy with victory over Holy Trinity's Martin Tully.

Paddy Barnes of Holy Family should comfortably land the light-flyweight title when he meets Ciaran O'Neill of Dromore.

 

Finals (7.45pm):

Light-flyweight: Paddy Barnes (Holy Family) v Ciaran O'Neill (Dromore).

Flyweight: Michael Kelly (Immaculata) v Jamie Conlan (St J Bosco).

Bantamweight: Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata) v Marc McCullough (Cairn Lodge)

Featherweight: Stephen Donnelly (All Saints) v John Cooley (St Joseph's, Derry).

Lightweight: Kevin Doherty (Ring, Derry) v Anthony Cacace (Oliver Plunkett).

Light-welterweight: Dermot Hamill (All Saints) v Martin Tully (Holy Trinity).

Welterweight: Shane McKeown (SH Newry) v William McLaughlin (Illies GG).

Middleweight: Eamonn O'Kane (Immaculata) v TJ Hamill (All Saints).

Light-heavyweight: Ryan Green (Dockers) v Stephen Martin (St J Bosco).

Heavyweight: John Sweeney (Dungloe) v Finbar Doran (Phoenix).

Title No 5 sweetest of all for Eamonn

Friday, January 12, 2007

By David Kelly

 

On this finals night in the Smithwick's Ulster senior championships, class was largely a stranger but at least Immaculata men O'Kane and Brian Lindberg raised the bar, while the Best Boxer award went to teenager Steven Donnelly of All Saints.

The best was left to last when, with midnight approaching, O'Kane edged out Donnelly's clubmate TJ Hamill 16-15 after a barnstorming four rounds.

Hamill, last year's Ulster senior welterweight champion, did not look out of place at the higher weight and pushed O'Kane all the way. Indeed he took the opening round 3-2 – some thought by even more.

As they stood at close quarters and exchanged quality blows to body and head, O'Kane seemed to just have the edge in the second and the third, at the end of which Hamill was bizarrely given a standing count.

Then in exciting final two minutes Hamill swept home some eye-catching hooks but it was to be O'Kane's night - nine months after his painful defeat at the Commonwealth Games.

"I had gone up to 90kg – I could have entered at heavyweight! Some people thought that I had quit because of the decision in Melbourne but it was also the fact that I had planned that but in the summer I decided that I couldn't go out like that.

"So I got in shape and to win this against TJ who's a very clever boxer means an awful lot and now I have to improve and go for the Irish championships next week," said O'Kane.

 

Lindberg also admitted that he would "have to improve" if he is to complete a senior double triumph after his 24-13 victory over Marc McCullough in the bantamweight final.

McCullough, making his senior debut, can take great credit from his gutsy display and was rightly handed the Most Improved Boxer Award.

But the Irish Intermediate champion simply found Lindberg too strong and too experienced and as McCullough tired in the latter stages the champion came on strong.

Lindberg, last year's flyweight champion, said: "He gave me trouble with his right hand, he was a quick puncher and he fought well but I always felt that during the exchanges and as the fight went on my extra experience would tell and it did. Now I want to go and get the Irish title."

All Saints featherweight Donnelly landed his first senior title with a clever display of hit and move tactics, for which John Cooley of St Joseph's, Derry had no answer.

Donnelly played the matador role to perfection, gliding across the ring and poking out his jab as Cooley marched forward trying in vain to get a foothold throughout the contest and going down 15-6.

"We had a game plan and I stuck to it and I want to thank Carl Frampton for working with me because the sparring we had was ideal," said Donnelly.

Donnelly's clubmate Dermot Hamill – TJ's cousin – picked up the light-welterweight title, defeating Martin Tully of Holy Trinity 16-8, while Holy Family's Paddy Barnes won his third senior title when he retained the light-flyweight title with a 19-11 victory over Dromore's Ciaran O'Neill.

Though, Barnes admitted: "I fought like a novice. Maybe it was because I haven't boxed in a while but I'll have to box a lot better than that in the Irish championships because I know that I can win them this year."

Oliver Plunkett teenager Anthony Cacace completed an Ulster double as he added his first the senior lightweight title to his intermediate success, defeating Kevin Doherty of Ring, Derry 13-4 with plenty still left in the tank.

Other results - Flyweight: Jamie Conlan (St John Bosco) bt Michael Kelly (Immaculata) 29-11.

Welterweight: William McLaughlin (Illies GG) bt Shane McKeown (SH Newry) 20-12.

Light-heavyweight: Ryan Green (Dockers) bt Stephen Martin (Dockers) 14-13.

Heavyweight: John Sweeney (Dungloe) bt Finbar Doran (Phoenix) 20-4.

Super-heavyweight: Cathal McMonagle walkover.

High flying Lindberg will switch his sights to double senior goal

Friday, January 12, 2007

By David Kelly

 

Lindberg was made to work hard by Mark McCullough of Cairn Lodge but last year's flyweight champion produced some fine boxing and was a worthy 24-13 winner.

Immaculata boxer Lindberg will now set his sights on making it a double senior triumph when he heads to Dublin next week for the weigh-ins for the Irish Championships.

This was clearly a great workout for Lindberg as he looks ahead to his Irish challenge with McCullough's speed and accurate right-hand causing him some concern in the early stages.

Irish intermediate champion McCullough showed no sign of nerves on his senior debut as he glided around the ring and whipped home his sharp counter blows.

Lindberg was clearly surprised by McCullough's quick hand speed but nevertheless met fire with fire and was ahead 6-5 going into the second round.

Lindberg was clearly more measured in the second, not allowing himself to be caught so easily by McCullough's flashing blows and went into the third 9-7 ahead. The following two minutes saw both men come up with some smart boxing but Lindberg's strength was beginning to tell and he had extended his lead to four points at the bell.

The fourth began with a furious exchange in a neutral corner and 17-year-old McCullough showed his mettle as he stood toe-to-toe. But it was clear as the round progressed that he was beginning to tire and Lindberg took advantage to run out a clear winner.

Lindberg said: "I'm really pleased with that performance because he did make things difficult for me in the early stages but then I started to get the measure of him as the fight went on.

"And I think in the end my strength and experience was the difference between the two of us as the fight went on.

"Credit to him because he put up a very good fight."

Oliver Plunkett's Anthony Cacace picked up his first senior title when he defeated Kevin Docherty in the lightweight decider, 13-4.

Cacace completed an Ulster double as last year he won the intermediate title and victory last night was never in doubt as he gave a very assured display in only his second senior contest.

After an even first round Cacace took control of the contest as southpaw Docherty struggled to land with any significant blows.

Cacace was on top in rounds three and four and cruised to victory.

There was a second title for the All Saints Ballymena club as Dermot Hamill claimed the light welterweight title 16-8 against Martin Tully of Holly Trinity. Earlier in the night Steven Donnelly had picked up the featherweight title.

In a bruising encounter at light heavyweight Ryan Green of the Dockers squeezed home 14-13 against Stephen Martin of St John Bosco.

Despite trailing going into the final round Green managed to come out on top through a combination of his aggression and a public warning handed out to Martin for holding.

The heavyweight title went to John Sweeney of Dungloe who easily defeated Finbar Doran of Phoenix 20-4.

Classy Donnelly too hot for Cooley

Friday, January 12, 2007

By David Kelly

 

The 18-year-old from the All Saints club in Ballymena was simply too smart for Cooley who relentlessly marched forward but was always second best to his opponent's hit and move tactics.

The new champion immediately gave credit to his coach Gerry Hamill but also to former Ulster and Irish champion Carl Frampton, who sparred with Donnelly leading up to the final.

Donnelly said: "Sparring with Carl was a great help because he boxes just like Cooley and is very strong so I have to thank him for helping me get my gameplan together.

"It was a little bit nervous to start with it being my first senior final but I gradually settled down and although he was putting on a lot of pressure I stuck to my plan, caught him with quick one-twos as he came in and it paid off."

While Donnelly is unsure whether he will be travelling down to compete in the Irish Senior Championships next week, light flyweight champion Paddy Barnes will be hoping to make it double joy in Dublin.

While Barnes picked up his third Ulster senior title rather comfortably, defeating Ciaran O'Neill of Dromore 19-11, he wasn't entirely happy with his performance.

Barnes, of Holy Family, said: "To be honest I thought I boxed like a novice tonight, I just don't know why I couldn't get my punches off the way I wanted to.

"He did make it awkward for me because he was always on the retreat but that's no excuse, I just felt I could have boxed a lot better than that but still I've got my third title which is great.

"Now I'm looking to go down to Dublin and win the Irish title and I'm very confident that I can go and do that this year. Maybe it was a good thing that I got that performance out of the way."

Jamie Conlan of St John Bosco claimed the flyweight title with a 29-11 decision over Immaculata's Michael Kelly.

After a close opening round Conlan was 9-4 ahead on the judges' scoring, which seemed a little harsh on Kelly who continued to press forward in the second round but was always coming off second best in the close quarter action.

By the end of the third round Conlan was 24-10 ahead and he continued to outwork the Immaculata man up to the final bell.