Antrim's Monkstown ABC and Limerick’s Rathkeale BC did the double as Brandon McCarthy claimed his 15th Irish title, and his first Elite crown, at the National Stadium in Dublin on Friday night.
Brother and sister Michaela and Aidan Walsh claimed feather and welter titles at the expense of Emma Agnew, while Callum Walsh and Nell Fox and Jason Harty made sure Treaty boxing was celebrating on unanimous and split decisions over Leona Houlihan and John Joe Nevin.
Jude Gallagher and Regan Buckley, meantime, matched the classic 2009 final between Rio Olympian David Oliver Joyce and two-weight World pro champion Carl Frampton in terms of drama and action.
Both men went about their business with intensity, guts and guilt before Gallagher had his hand raised in victory on a night of celebration for Tyrone’s Two Castles BC.
Former Elite champion Eric Donovan worked Gallagher’s corner tonight and said he’d made an arrangement with pro boxing chiefs to weigh-in tomorrow ahead of his 11th paid fight in Glasgow.
Sean Mari and Evelyn Igharo took home the first two belts on offer on 3-2 splits and Brandon McCarthy outpointed Barry McReynolds, a two-time European medalist at underage level, to secure belt number 15.
"Absolutely amazing, I can’t get over it. What a night, what a way to win an Elite title. It still hasn’t set in yet," said McCarthy of the St Michael’s Athy unit.
Jude Gallagher & Daina Moorehouse won the Best Male & Female Boxers Award
Meanwhile, Dean Clancy beat defending feather champion Patryk Adamus in a fierce encounter and Aidan Walsh earned a unanimous decision over Cork southpaw Callum Walsh. Olympic champion Michael Carruth presented the accolades.
Emmet Brennan emerged victorious versus defending light-heavy titlist Thomas O’Toole.
"It was a great fight, better fight than I thought it would be," said the Dublin Dockland’s BC man.
Ceire Smith landed her 7th Elite belt on a unanimous decision over Niamh Earley.
"I got the opportunity tonight against a very good, strong upcoming opponent. It’s lovely to see another generation up and coming. Thanks very much to my opponent, great fight," said Smith of the Cavan BC.
Cork’s Christina Desmond beat Offaly’s Grainne Walsh on a 4-1 split in a repeat of last February’s welter final which Desmond also won on a split. Tonight’s encounter was equally as close, with Walsh probably shading the first round and Desmond edging frames two and three.
Another key bout in an Olympic weight saw George Bates topple Wayne Kelly 4-1 in the 63kg class, while Ken Okungbowa, who claimed the heavyweight belt in February, secured the super heavy belt tonight on a 4-1 split decision over Antoine O’Griofa.
Offaly bantamweight Sarah Haghighat beat Sarah Breslin to secure the second last gold medal on offer and former heavyweight champion Kiril Afanasev outpointed 2019 World Military Games bronze medalist Daniel O’Brien in the 83rd and final contest of the seven-day tournament.
