Brady on form in comeback bout

ENNIS boxer Lee Brady made a welcome comeback to ring action in the finals of the Munster Leagues in a frost-bound Ennis last Sunday.
It was Brady’s first action of the new season, having been sidelined with injury since September and he was anxious to return to the winners’ rostrum against Limerick’s Callum Ryan (St Francis). He ticked all the right boxes in this one and emerged victorious on all three judges’ scorecards in a pulsating three rounds of action in the 67kg class.
He conceded height and reach to the rangy Limerick fighter but was always busy and kept Ryan on the back foot, scoring with left and right hooks for a comprehensive victory.
Brothers John and Simon McDonagh, who were unbeaten in their previous respective outings, almost made it 100% success ratings in the leagues but a rather harsh decision deprived Simon in his battle with Chester O’Mara from Clonmel. He will rue the absence of the computer scoring and, in fairness, would have been comfortable with his scoring frequency, finding O’Mara a compelling target for his solid left jabs and hooks and generally looking a winner as he tired ominously in the third and final round.
John was more emphatic against Josh Joy from Clonmel and fought to a rigid plan from the opening bell, jabbing accurately with his favourite left and punishing the Clonmel boxer with a variety of left and right hooks to the head and body, giving little joy to the Tipperary fighter at the final bell.
There were defeats for Mike Galbraith and Brian McDonagh in the 57kg class and both will be anxious to get back on a winning track when Clare face Galway’s Olympic boxers on January 8 at the Ennis venue.
There are many fixtures on the boxing calendar for 2011 to celebrate the centenary of the IABA and local officials will also celebrate the Ennis club’s 50th anniversary, with plans for an elaborate tournament at the end of the year.