Irish see off Italians at the Stadium

Eric Donovan produced a career best performance as Ireland beat Italy 7-5 at the National Stadium in Dublin on Friday night.

Donovan, from the St Michael's Athy club, beat reigning World lightweight champion and AIBA World boxer of the year Domenico Valentino 11-8 at the home of Irish boxing.

Big Tipperary heavyweight Con Sheehan, the current EU champion, secured the win for Ireland with a 4-2 decision over 2007 AIBA World champion Clemente Russo in the second last contest of the 12 bout international.

John Joe Nevin, Tyrone McCullagh, World Youth champion Ray Moylette, John Joe Joyce and Darren O'Neill, the reigning EU middleweight champion, also had their hands raised in victory.

Moate light flyweight Gary Molloy lost out to Vincenzo Picardi in the opening light flyweight bout of the evening, a 7-2 victory securing to win for the 2008 EU bronze medallist.

Jimmy Moore, from the St Francis club in Limerick, was out-pointed 13-7 by Alex Ferramosca in the second light flyweight duel of the night.

Moore pulled it back to 2-2 at the end of the first and was 6-5 down at the end of the second. However, the Italian added another seven points to his total in the third and final round to see off the brave challenge of the Limerick man.

Nevin reduced the arrears after coming from behind to outfox and outbox Vittorio Parrinello. The Azzuri bantamweight was 1-0 ahead at the end of the first, but Nevin turned on the style near the bell for the end of the second to surge 5-2 ahead.

The third round was all Nevin, the Cavan BC ace measuring his opponent for some rapid-fire shots en route to an impressive verdict.

Meanwhile, Donegal featherweight Tyrone McCullagh made it 2-2 after four bouts with an equally impressive victory over Beijing Olympian Allession Di Sevino.

McCullagh, who claimed his first senior belt last weekend, was always ahead in this bout, first and second round leads laying the platform for a 10-6 verdict for the Illies Golden Gloves man.

Donovan was 2-1 up against Valentino midway through the first round, but the World champion levelled affairs right at the bell for the end of the stanza with a short range right hook. Donovan then landed some excellent shots to lead 8-5 going into the third.

Valentino pulled it back to one point in the final frame. However, Donovan was never going to be denied in his own back yard and drove home another three points to claim a well-deserved win.

Philip Sutcliffe had the crowd on their feet in a three round thriller with Davide Cenciarelli only to lose out by a two-point margin, while John Joe Joyce produced another slick performance at the South Circular Road venue.

Darren O'Neill, who revealed he injured his right hand in the first round, ensured that Ireland couldn't be beaten on the night, after chalking up an 11-1 win over Luca Podda.

Ireland's Disha Gezim. a replacement for Ken Egan who was out with the flu, lost out to Siomone Fiori in the third last bout of the evening

Sheehan, from the Clonmel BC, found himself 2-0 down at the end of the first round versus Russo. However, the Italian ceded two points after receiving a public warning - he was cautioned twice by ref Larry Durand for this offence - for repeatedly hitting with the inside of his glove.

Sheehan then took maximum advantage to score the remaining two points of the bout and secure Ireland victory.

Driminagh super-heavyweight David Joyce lost 15-4 to Olympic and double World champion Roberto Cammerelle in the final bout of the night.

However, Joyce can be proud of his display against one of the best pound-for-pound amateur boxers in the world.

Both nations will meet again at the Donegal Celtic club in Belfast on Sunday.