The IABA Open Youth Competition edged a step closer to completion with twelve quarter-finals at the National Stadium in Dublin tonight.
Declan Milligan recorded a 6-1 win over Noel Keogh. Impressive Ryston flyweight Chris Phelan followed that up with a convincing decision over Myles Casey of the Our Lady of Lourdes club in Limerick.
Tonight's card saw Sean O'Neill come from behind to edge out his St Saviours OBA clubmate Shane Roche in an up tempo last eight duel. O'Neill was 1-0 at the end of the first round and despite taking a 3-2 lead in the second found himself 4-3 in arrears at the end of that frame also.
However, three unanswered points in the final stanza, one courtesy of a superb right hook - secured the win.
Meanwhile, Ryan Burnett recorded a 3-1 decision over Stevie Quinn, the rangy Eastside taking two standing counts in the third round of an all-Belfast duel.
Limerick's Christy O'Donnell showed some good offensive skills in the opening bantamweight contest of the evening in the first round. However, Glen Brogan claimed the next two frames to record a well deserved victory.
There were wins also for Anthony Hartley, Glen Holmes, George Bates, the impressive Daryl Fitzgerald and Ryston featherweight John Joe Nevin, who out-gunned Sean McComb in an excellent 57kg clash.
Michael Glendenning and Michael McDonagh won the final two bouts of the evening.
The Open Youth Championships resume tomorrow with two sessions beginning at 2.30pm and 6.30pm. The weigh-in will be held between 8.30am and 9.30am at the National Stadium.
The IABA are using the Open Youth Competition as part of their selection process for April's AIBA World Youth Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. The World Championships will act as the only qualifier for the Youth Olympics in Singapore in August.
Quarter-finals, Friday 22 January:
51kg: Declan Milligan (St Pauls) beat Noel Kehoe (Marble City) 6-1
51kg: Chris Phelan (Ryston) beat Myles Casey (OLOL) 14-1
51kg: Sean O'Neill (St Saviours OBA) beat Shane Roche (St Saviours OBA) 6-4
51kg: Stevie Quinn (Eastside) lost to Ryan Burnett (Holy Trinity) 1-3
54kg: Christy O'Donnell (OLOL) lost to Glen Brogan (Clones) 3-8
54kg: Stephen Doherty (Carndonagh) lost to Anthony Hartley (Saviours/Crystal) 2-5
54kg: Jamie Long (Sunnyside) lost to George Bates (St Marys Dublin) 5-10
54kg: Glen Holmes (Corinthians) lost to Barry O'Neill (Holy Trinity) 5-10
57kg: Daryl Fitzgerlad (Saviours/Crystal) beat Eugeney Mischenko (Lanesboro) RSC2
57kg: John Joe Nevin (Ryston) beat Sean McComb (Holy Trinity) 5-3
57kg: Michael Glendenning (Errigal) beat Michael Faney (Ballincarrow) RTD2
57kg: Michael McDonagh (St Marys) beat Ryan McKeown (Sacred Heart) 7-2
Quarter-finals, Saturday 23 January, 2.30pm:
60kg: Keith Monks (Crumlin) v Rohan Date (Saviours/Crystal)
60kg: Michael O'Reilly (Portlaoise) v Mark McLoughlin (St Marys)
60kg: Johathan Carroll (St Seachnalls) v Jason Conroy (Crumlin)
60kg: Paul Kelly (Twintowns) v Anthony Upton ( Holy Family GG)
64kg: Shane McColgan (Cardonagh) v J Myres (Ryston)
64kg: Thomas Stokes (St Seachnalls) v Fergal McCrory (Clonoe)
64kg: Brian Duffy (Keady) v Kieran Forde (Monivea)
64kg: Robert Murphy (Drimnagh|) v Lee Maxwell (Gilford)
69kg: Anthony Furlong (Wexford CBS) v Chris Blaney (Navan)
69kg: Stephen Broadhurst (Dealgan) v Eamon Tighe (Ballincarrow)
69kg: Martin Wall (Crumlin) v Richard Walsh (Dungarvan)
69kg: Chris Mullaly (Ryston) v John Corcoran (Drimnagh)
Quarter-finals, Saturday 23 January, 6.30pm:
75kg: Caoimhim Corr (St Georges) lost to Matthew Neill (Monkstown) W/O
75kg: Danny O'Brien (St Lukes) v Brian Broderick (Crumlin)
81kg: Karl O'Donnell (St Lukes) v Michael T McDonagh (Dungarvan)
81kg: John Tighe (Ballincarrow) beat Martin Ward (Ballinasloe) W/O
81kg: Patrick Fryers (Clonoes) v Harry Thornton (Dealgan)
91kg: Paddy Reilly (St Davids) v Kiril Afanasev (Smithfield)
91kg: Donard McNally (Clonard) v Michael Ward (Athenry)
91kg: Stefan Benish (St Nicholas) v Jason Stokes (Drimnagh)
91kg: James Leahy (Bay City) v Patrick Nevin (St Lukes)
