Defending light-welterweight champion Dean Walsh came through the fight of the night on Friday night of semi-finals weekend at the 2016 National Elite Championships.
Walsh, a nephew of former Ireland head coach Billy, claimed a split-decision win over James Cleary of Galway’s Olympic club in what was a hard fight to call, while London 2012 Olympians Darren O’Neill and Adam Nolan also emerged victorious at the National Stadium.
The first round of the Walsh-Cleary bout was a highly-entertaining affair with light-welterweight (64kg) champion Walsh landing shots while on the move as Cleary moved forward with effective pressure.
That tactic paid off for Cleary in the second as Walsh appeared to tire with his opponent in constant pursuit, although the defending champion was sprightlier in the last minute of the round.
Walsh came back into it in the third, planting his feet and trading at the start of the round before Cleary tested the chin of the champion, who managed to hold out for a split-decision win.
“I take my hat off to James, it was a close fight and it could have went either way,” said Walsh afterwards. “His crowd thought he won it, I genuinely thought myself that I won it and landed the cleaner shots.
“I’m another step closer to the final and I look forward to meeting Kelly or Moylette,” added Walsh, referring to Wayne Kelly of Athlone and Westport’s Ray Moylette, who compete on Saturday night.
The 2016 tournament is being held early to avoid clashing with the build-up to international Olympic qualifiers next year, and Kilkenny heavyweight O’Neill booked his final place in style when stopping Belfast opponent Stephen McMonagle.
Defending champion O’Neill sent his Holy Trinity opponent to the canvas with a heavy blow, and a big left uppercut from O’Neill forced a second count for McMonagle and the end of the bout.
O’Neill will meet the winner of Saturday's bout between Kiril Afanasev of Smithfield and Portlaoise’s Bernie O’Reilly in next weekend’s 91kg decider.
Bray-based Wexford welterweight (69kg) Nolan recorded a comfortable unanimous points win over Antrim’s Michael Bustard, controlling the fight throughout and boxing in a more aggressive style than usual.
Reigning 69kg champion Nolan hopes to launch a late bid to challenge Ballymena rival Steven Donnelly for an Olympic place in Rio next year.
It appears that Donnelly is on the plane to Rio thanks to his feats in the World Series of boxing, but Nolan hopes another Irish title win might see him sent to Olympic qualifiers next year – although that may be an unlikely scenario.
“It’s extra incentive because if I lose next week, what right do I have to ask to go to a qualifier? It doesn’t make sense,” said Nolan, who boxes the winner of Saturday's bout between Caoimhín Hynes and Martin Stokes in next week’s final.
In Friday night's opener, European underage champion John Joyce booked a middleweight (75kg) semi-final clash with world medallist Michael O’Reilly tonight after overcoming Fearghus Quinn of Camlough.
In Joyce’s first bout at senior level, the St Michael’s Athy fighter took his time to find his stride as he continues to work through a busy schedule, having claimed bronze at the European Youth Championships in Poland last weekend.
Joyce showed signs of his talent when slipping and moving at times but often opted to trade with the competitive Quinn before the former took a split-decision win.
World medallist and fellow European Games champion Michael O’Reilly now lies in wait on Saturday night.
“It’s nice to get the first one out of the way and it’s onwards and upwards from here on in,” said Joyce.
“It was my first senior fight without the headguards… but I’m ready for Michael O’Reilly,” he continued.
“I had four tough fights out there [in Poland] and I only had five days’ break but I’m ready to dig deep,” added Joyce, who is a cousin of Joe Ward as well as the Joyce brothers, David Oliver and Hugh.
The much-anticipated battle of brothers failed to go ahead last night, however as Hugh Joyce conceded a walkover to elder sibling David Oliver, who progresses to a final meeting with Seán McComb or George Bates.
Hugh Joyce failed to weigh in for last night’s bout, with his St Michael’s Athy club coaches claiming the younger brother had picked up a chest infection.
At light-flyweight (49kg) Regan Buckley of St Teresas defeated Daryl Moran of Illies Golden Gloves on a split decision to set up a final meeting next weekend with Stephen McKenna, who received a bye to the decider.
TJ Waite, took another split decision over Jason McKay, while Kurt Walker, the reigning Irish bantamweight champion, took a unanimous decision win over Colin O’Donovan of Togher.
At light-heavyweight, Christopher Blaney of Navan took a split-decision win against Seán McGlinchey of Oakleaf, while super-heavayweight Dean Gardiner, another defending champion, was awarded a walkover at 91+kg.
Saturday night’s semi-final schedule sees reigning champions McComb (60kg) and O’Reilly (75kg) in action.
