John Joe Joyce is keeping his fingers crossed that it will be high five time for the St Michael's Athy club at the Elite National Senior Championships at the National Stadium this weekend.
Triple J will be one of five St Michael's Athy club-men involved in last four bouts this Friday and Saturday.
The 21-year-old, his first cousin David Oliver Joyce, and Roy Sheahan will all be defending their titles, and former senior champion Eric Donovan and David Joyce will also be in action.
Consequently, Dominic O'Rourke, the President of the IABA, is facing a busy weekend - as head coach at St Michael's Athy he will be working all five boxers' corners over the next 24 hours.
Joyce will be in action against Michael McLoughlin tonight, and the 2008 Irish Olympian says he was impressed with McLoughlin's performance in last weekend's quarter-finals.
The 2008 European Championships bronze medallist said: ‘I have never boxed Michael McLoughlin before but I watched him last weekend and he got a good win under his belt.
‘I've been training at the Athy club for the Championships along with the rest of the lads and our training has gone exceptionally and our confidence is high.
‘Ideally, I would like to see us all get through to the finals but it will be tough as nothing comes easy in the semi-finals of the Irish seniors.’
If Joyce advances then he will face a Crumlin BC opponent in the light welterweight decider as AIBA World Youth silver medalist Jamie Kavanagh and club-mate Philip Sutcliffe meet in the corresponding semi-final.
Joyce added: ‘I have beaten Jamie and Philip in the past but they have always been tough bouts. I don't like thinking too far ahead as I have a semi-final to win first.
‘I was happy with my performance last weekend and I am confident that if I perform to my full potential that I can win on Friday night, please God. Fingers crossed that we can all make it through to the finals.’
The 2009 Elite National Championships finals will be held on Friday, 20 February.
Defending champions:
Super heavyweight: 91Kg+: Vacant
Heavyweight: 91Kg: Con Sheehan
Light heavyweight: 81Kg: Ken Egan
Middleweight: Vacant
Welterweight: 69Kg: Roy Sheahan
Light welterweight: 64Kg: John Joe Joyce
Lightweight: 60Kg: Ross Hickey
Featherweight: 57Kg: David Oliver Joyce
Bantamweight: 54Kg: John Joe Nevin
Flyweight: 51Kg: Vacant
Light flyweight: 48Kg: Paddy Barnes receives walkover
Elite National Senior Championships semi-final draws, National Stadium, Dublin:
February 13th (7.30pm):
51kg: Conor Ahern (Baldoyle) v Neil Walker (Dockers)
54kg: JJ Nevin (Cavan) v Tyrone McCullough (Illies GG)
57kg: David Oliver Joyce ( St Michael's Athy) v Dermot Lawlor(Carlow)
60kg: Ross Hickey (Grangecon) v Ciaran Bates (St Mary's)
64kg: JJ Joyce (St Michael's Athy) v Michael McLoughlin (Cardonagh)
69kg: Willie McLoughlin (Illies GG) v Roy Sheahan (St Michael's Athy)
75kg: David Joyce (St Michael's Athy) v Stephen O'Reilly (Twintowns)
81kg: Ken Egan (Neilstown) v Denis Hogan Grangecon)
91kg: Con Sheehan (Clonmel) v Jimmy Sweeney (Drimnagh)
91+Kg: Anthony Crampton (St Bronaghs) v Joe Joyce (Moate)
February 14th (7.30pm):
51kg: Declan Geraghty (Dublin Docklands) v Ruairi Dalton (St Johns Antrim)
54kg: Ryan Lindberg (Immaculata) v Danny Coughlan (St Anne's)
57kg: Carl Frampton (Midland) v Kevin Fenessey (Clonmel)
60kg: Ray Moylette (St Anne's) v Eric Donovan (St Michael's Athy)
64kg: Jamie Kavanagh (Crumlin) v Philip Sutcliffe (Crumlin)
69kg: Fergal Redmond (Arklow) v Cathal McAuley (Dungloe)
75kg: Darren O'Neill (Paulstown) v Eamon O'Kane (Immaculata)
81kg: Brendan Fitzpatrick (West Finglas) v Thomas McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett)
91kg: Alan Reynolds (St Joesphs) v John Sweeney (Dungloe)
91+kg: Thomas Crampton (St Bronaghs) v David Joyce (Moate)
Triple J hoping for high five time this weekend
