Ennis boxers in winning form

Ennis boxing resources were stretched to the limit last weekend with a double engagement on successive days (Friday and Saturday).
Friday saw the renewal of the Cecil Campbell Memorial Trophy, which was staged annually between Limerick and Clare selections on a home-and-away basis in the 1980s and ’90s and which will be a landmark event on the boxing calendar for both counties in the future. On this occasion, the Clare boxers took the honours with an 8-6 victory in a stirring contest between two evenly matched sides.
Saturday was the annual tournament against the St Ann’s Club in Westport, which is the alma mater of world amateur champion, Ray Moylette and again there were some absorbing battles before the home side emerged victorious with on a 10-4 margin.
There were many stand-out performances from both days, with victories for Irish champion, Conor Doyle, who suffered a rare setback in Limerick a fortnight ago but regained perspective with style in a great battle with his old foe, Dom Sarsfield, from the St Francis Club.
Conor’s older brother, Rhys, made his fighting debut in Friday’s clash with a close split decision over Cullan Ryan on the same bill and the older Doyle sibling showed some exciting promise with accurate left jabs and the occasional point-scoring right hook for a 10-9 points victory.
Middleweight Wayne Danagher was impervious to his opponent’s record when he went to close quarters with Limerick’s Podge McDonagh and hammered out an impressive points victory over the Shannon-domiciled puncher. Danagher, at 17, continues to impress and his progression from the youths’ class has been eye-catching in recent months. His left jab is accurate and daunting and McDonagh’s lack of stamina in the final round sustained the Ennis boxer’s ambition.
The ladies continue to hog the headlines in Irish amateur boxing recently and Katie Taylor’s phenomenal streak gives hope of glory in the London Olympics. Many of the ladies who venture into the roped square hold out hopes of perhaps emulating the Bray legend and the progress of 16-year-old Sally Carrig to date is remarkable. Sally, Kayleigh and Shannon McCormack and Antoinette Keane have each won Irish titles in the past three years and all have been earmarked for the elite squad in national headquarters. Sally was simply outstanding at the weekend, with first a match-winning victory over Patrique Kelly from St Francis in the Campbell Cup match and on Saturday she shed the tiredness to outpoint Katie Hyland from Westport over three exciting rounds. Both fights were similar in intensity and outcome, with first the adversary and then the daunting Carrig gaining supremacy and victory. One wonders if the dream can continue for the Ennis girl but it is certain for the moment she thrives in her stint on the winner’s podium.
57kg youth, Simon McDonagh tasted the wrath of the referee’s admonition on Friday in the Limerick match, having been docked four points for over-zealous barnstorming, while in a comfortable lead in the final round against Limerick’s Clive O’Mara but he kept his cool against Pat Fumulski on Saturday and forced his man to retire at the end of the first round. Younger brother, Thomas kicked off proceedings on the same afternoon with a splendid win against Cian McAllister from Mayo, setting the scene for a comfortable afternoon for the Ennis team.

RESULTS

Friday (Ennis names first):
Mike Doherty beat Martin Pratt
Martin C Doherty beat Jay Casey
Tom Galbraith lost to Jamie O’Reilly
Davy Keenan lost to John O’Reilly
Conor Doyle beat Dom Sarsfield
Mike McDonagh beat Gary Butterfield
Simon McDonagh lost to Clive O’Mara
Wayne Danagher beat Podge McDonagh
Seamus Nugent scr Conor Madden walkover
John McDonagh lost to Lee Reeves
James Galbraith beat Danny Roche
Jack Murphy lost to Luke Nolan
Rhys Doyle beat Cullan Ryan
Sally Carigg beat Patrique Kelly

Saturday
Boy 1 29kg Tom McDonagh beat Cian McAllister
36kg Davy Keenan beat Oisín Moran
39kg Pat McDonagh beat Mark Moran
42kg Martin Doherty beat Cian Kennedy
42kg Thomas P Doherty beat Ryan Heraty
Boy 2 33kg Cathal Darcy lost to Stephen Staunton
39kg Jim McDonagh Lost to Danny McDonagh
46kg Michael McDonagh beat Kaspar Buyka
52kg Michael Galbraith beat Bostak Zelewski
Boy 3 57kg Brian McDonagh lost to Frank McDonagh
Boy 4 44kg Seamie Nugent lost to James Brennan
Youth 57kg Simon McDonagh beat Pat Fumulski RSC 1
Middleweight Wayne Danagher beat Pat McDonagh
Ladies 64kg Sally Carrig beat Katie Hyland